How To Repel Stink Bugs With Essential Oils

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You may notice as the weather gets colder, stink bugs find their way into your house. Stink bugs love warm spaces, and here in the Midwest we deal with swarms of them as soon as summer winds down.

Now is a great time to talk about how to repel stink bugs with essential oils. This way, you know you have some options when a swarm sets in. 

Stink bugs can be a frustrating problem, and while they don’t bite or pose any physical threat, they can be annoying and give off a nasty smell when they feel threatened.

For this reason, many people panic at the first sight of stink bugs.

A single stink bug can leave a scent trail, inviting their friends to come join them. In no time you could have an entire swarm of these critters ready to party at your place.

And what is a bigger bummer than uninvited party guests?

For many families, using chemicals in the home is out of the question. Luckily, essential oils offer an alternative.

Essential oils give off scents that stink bugs despise, so they aren’t attracted to your space in the first place. 

Which essential oils repel stink bugs?

First, let’s take a look at the essential oils you can use to repel stink bugs.

Many of these options are quite reasonable in price, and most can be found at your local health food stores, drugstore, or Amazon. 

– lemon essential oil– clove essential oil– lavender essential oil– lemongrass essential oil– wintergreen essential oil– mint essential oil– eucalyptus essential oil

All of these oils work well, however vary in scents. You may wish to use an oil that you enjoy the smell of.

Feel free to test out different scents and see which one you agree with. 

When it comes to essential oils, look for trusted brands so you can be assured they are of good quality and don’t include fillers of any kind. 

You can find my favorite essential oils brands here with up to 70% discount here!

SAFETY TIP: Only use essential oils as directed in this tutorial. Patch test a small area of surface before use to make sure staining isn’t an issue.

Keep all essential oils away from children and pets. Each of these oils can cause issues if ingested. 

RELATED: Household Products That KILL Ants

How to Repel Stink Bugs with Essential Oils

I have found two different ways to use essential oils to repel stink bugs. You can incorporate the oils into a homemade stink bug spray, or make the Stink Bug Bombs found below this section.  

To use essential oils in a homemade stink bug spray, simply add 20-25 drops of oil (your choice, any combination of the oils listed above) to 2 cups of warm water and shake well.

DIRECTIONS: Spray the mixture directly onto any stink bugs you see. Remember, if there is one, it will invite more.

You can also spray any areas of entry that may be a concern. This could include windows, doorways, cracks in foundation, baseboards, or other areas of concern. 

RELATED: You can also find our Homemade Stink Bug Spray recipe here.

This recipe does not include essential oils (although you could add some) and can be made with just 3 ingredients. 

How to Make Stink Bug Bombs 

Another way to keep stink bugs out of your space is to make stink bug bombs using essential oils.

To do this, simply put 10-12 drops of essential oil (choosing an oil from the list above) on a cotton ball.

How to use:

Place the cotton ball at points of entry such as windows, cabinets, crawl spaces, and doorways. This method should be avoided in a home with pets or small children. 

You can replace the cotton balls every few days or as the scent subsides. 

As you might imagine, there are more things you can do around your home (that don’t involve chemicals) in order to keep your home stink bug free.

Be sure to check out these easy Ways to Get Rid of Stink Bugs, found here, so you can be sure to stink bug proof your space!

RELATED: Find out more about pesky Stink bugs here. 

Now you know exactly how to repel stink bugs with essential oils! Be sure to check out the list above, find a scent you like, and get to work.

Stink bugs are sure to be put off by the scent, and you can in turn enjoy a pest free space.

Remember, you can try the cotton ball method, or make a quick spray solution!

Want some other chemical free pest solutions? Take a look at what else we have been working on:

– How to Kill Fruit Flies

– Best Ways to Get Rid of Flies in the Backyard

– How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs for Good

– How to Repel Mice with Steel Wool

– How to Make a Fruit Fly Trap