Ants can be a real nuisance when they invade your home. Not only do they creep around your kitchen counters, but they also can get into your pantry and contaminate food. Getting rid of ants with natural essential oils is an effective and non-toxic solution.
Certain essential oils contain compounds that deter and repel ants. Using these ant-repelling oils is an easy, safe way to keep ants out of your house without using harsh chemicals.
In this comprehensive guide, we will share 14 of the best essential oils for repelling ants and provide tips on how to use them effectively.
Why Use Essential Oils to Repel Ants?
There are several good reasons to use essential oils instead of commercial ant killers:
- Natural and Non-Toxic: Essential oils are natural plant extracts that are safe for people, pets, and the environment when used properly. They do not contain harmful chemicals like commercial ant sprays.
- ** Pleasant Smell:** While killing ants, essential oils leave behind a fresh, pleasant fragrance instead of a harsh chemical odor.
- Effective: Certain essential oils contain compounds that ants find offensive and repelling. They can effectively deter ants without killing them.
- Budget-Friendly: A bottle of essential oil can last a long time. Essential oils are economical compared to repeatedly buying commercial ant baits and sprays.
- Easy to Use: Essential oils are versatile and easy to use in different ways for ant control. You can make homemade sprays, use them in diffusers, apply topically, etc.
14 Best Essential Oils to Repel Ants
Here are 14 of the most effective essential oils to repel ants through their strong scents and insecticidal properties:
1. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is one of the most popular essential oils for repelling ants. It has a strong minty aroma that ants cannot stand.
Studies show peppermint oil can repel various ant species like carpenter ants, red ants, and black ants when applied topically or used in diffusers near ant trails [1].
The menthol in peppermint oil confuses ants’ scent trails and repels them from following the path into your home. Use a few drops of food-grade peppermint oil along walkways, windowsills, and other ant entry points.
2. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is another effective essential oil against ants because of its potent insecticidal, fungicidal, and bactericidal properties [2].
This oil has a medicinal, woodsy scent that ants dislike. It can kill mold and disrupt ant pheromone trails when used in cleaning solutions or diffusers [3].
Use tea tree oil sparingly and dilute it before using topically as it can be toxic for pets in concentrated amounts.
3. Lemongrass Oil
The citrusy aroma of lemongrass oil helps repel ants. It contains geraniol and neral, two antimicrobial compounds that are toxic to ants [4].
Add a few drops of lemongrass oil to cotton balls and place them along window sills, doorways, and other ant entry points. The smell deters ants and also kills germs.
4. Clove Oil
Clove oil has analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties that make it effective at repelling ants [5].
It has a strong, spicy aroma that overwhelms ants’ scent receptors and makes it hard for them to follow pheromone trails. The eugenol in clove oil also works as a natural pesticide.
Use highly diluted clove oil on cotton balls near ant trails or add to your cleaning supplies when mopping or vacuuming to deter ants.
5. Lavender Oil
Although lavender oil smells sweet and floral to us, ants hate it. The linalool in lavender oil gives it antibacterial properties and the ability to disrupt ant pheromones [6].
Spray diluted lavender oil near ant trails and entry points or use lavender-scented household cleaners to repel ants. You can also grow lavender plants which helps deter ants.
6. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil has an intense menthol aroma that repels ants and masks their pheromone trails. It also has insecticidal properties against ants and other pests [7].
The 1,8-cineole and other volatile organic compounds make it difficult for ants to pick up each other’s scent trails [8]. Use it diluted in household cleaners or dripped along windowsills and doorways.
7. Citronella Oil
Citronella oil has geraniol, citronellol, citronellal, and other compounds that give it a lemon-like aroma offensive to ants [9].
Citronella candles, torches, and essential oil can be used outdoors to repel ants and prevent them from coming inside. Use it sparingly indoors as some people are allergic to the scent.
8. Cedarwood Oil
Cedarwood oil has several benefits for deterring ants:
- Its woodsy, balsamic aroma disguises pheromone trails [10].
- It can kill and repel ants through fumigation [11].
- The oil creates a barrier when applied to surfaces.
Use cedarwood chips or diffuse the oil indoors to repel ants while adding a pleasant scent.
9. Thyme Oil
Thyme oil contains thymol, a natural insecticide and fungicide that makes it unappealing to ants [12].
Its antibacterial properties also help destroy ants’ scent trails when used in household cleaners. The strong herbal aroma of thyme oil overwhelms ants’ pheromone receptors.
10. Cinnamon Oil
Cinnamon oil can help mask the scent trails ants use to navigate and repel them through its spicy-sweet aroma.
Compounds like cinnamaldehyde make cinnamon oil toxic and confusing to ants [13]. Use it diluted in DIY cleaners or spray perimeter areas ants frequent.
11. Orange Oil
Sweet orange oil contains high levels of limonene which gives it antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties [14].
It can mask pheromone trails and deter ants through its citrusy scent. Ants find it offensive while it leaves a fresh smell behind for us. Use diluted orange oil on cotton balls near problem areas.
12. Rosemary Oil
Rosemary oil contains camphor and 1,8-cineole which give it a scent ants avoid [15]. It disrupts their trails and repels them through its antimicrobial effects.
Add a few drops of rosemary oil to cotton balls and place them along countertops, window sills, cabinets, and baseboards to stop ants in their tracks.
13. Basil Oil
Sweet basil oil can deter ants through the methyl chavicol, eugenol, and other compounds that ants find offensive [16].
It diminishes ants’ ability to follow scent trails and masks the pheromones. The antimicrobial properties of basil oil also help destroy bacteria involved in trailing.
14. Lemon Oil
Lemon oil has a strong citrusy aroma that ants dislike. The limonene in lemon oil makes it an effective insect repellent against ants [17].
Spray diluted lemon oil along ant trails, doorways, countertops, and other areas ants frequent. The scent masks pheromone trails and makes it harder for them to follow.
How to Use Essential Oils to Repel Ants
There are several methods you can use to apply essential oils strategically around your home and repel ants:
Homemade Ant-Repelling Sprays
Make your own ant-repelling spray by adding 5-10 drops of your chosen essential oil(s) to a spray bottle filled with water. Shake well before spraying along ant trails, window sills, doorways, countertops, cabinets, and other surfaces.
Spray perimeter areas around your home’s foundation. Avoid spraying directly onto plants as some oils may harm them when concentrated.
Diffusers & Vaporizers
Use essential oil diffusers or vaporizers in rooms where you see ants coming inside. The ant-repelling aroma will permeate the air. Place them along counters, windowsills, and near pantry areas.
Topical Application
Dilute essential oils with a carrier oil like olive or coconut oil and apply the mixture directly along ant trails, entry points, baseboards, and perimeter walls. Use cotton swabs or balls to apply so the oil stays in place.
DIY Ant-Repelling Cleaners
Add 5-10 drops of essential oil to all-purpose cleaners and use them to wipe down surfaces in problem areas. The scent deters ants and kills germs involved in trailing.
You can also add the oils to your mopping solution. Avoid using too many oils at once as it could leave an overwhelming smell.
Outdoor Application
Use essential oils outdoors along the foundation, garden beds, patios, doorways, and other exterior areas prone to ants. Place cotton balls soaked in diluted oil along pathways ants use to get inside.
Tips for Using Essential Oils as Ant Repellents
Follow these tips to safely and effectively use essential oils to banish ants:
- Always dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil or water before use. They can be toxic at full concentration.
- Do a patch test on a small area of skin before widespread use to check for allergic reaction.
- Avoid getting oils near eyes, nose, and mouth. Wash hands after application.
- Do not let pets or children touch or ingest the oils.
- Use glass spray bottles instead of plastic which could degrade with oils.
- Combine different ant-repelling essential oils for increased effectiveness.
- Reapply oils frequently to maintain the scent deterrent, especially after cleaning.
- Use cotton swabs or balls to apply oils so the scent stays localized.
- Make sure to wash your hands after handling essential oils.
- Use oils preventatively before ants invade rather than removing them.
- Keep essential oils out of reach of children and pets.
- When using outdoors, don’t spray near bee hives or flowering plants that attract pollinators.
DIY Essential Oil Ant Repellent Recipes
Here are some easy homemade recipes using essential oils to repel ants:
All-Purpose Ant Repellent Spray
- 10 drops peppermint oil
- 10 drops lemongrass oil
- 10 drops lavender oil
- 1 cup water
- Glass spray bottle
Combine ingredients, shake well before use, and spray around ant problem areas.
Citrus Ant Repellent
- 8 drops lemon oil
- 6 drops orange oil
- 4 drops grapefruit oil
- 2 cups water
- Glass spray bottle
Mix oils into water, shake vigorously, and spray around perimeter and entry points.
Outdoor Ant Repellent
- 3 drops cedarwood oil
- 3 drops lemongrass oil
- 3 drops citronella oil
- 2 tablespoons carrier oil like olive or jojoba oil
Mix oils into carrier oil. Soak cotton balls and place around patios, garden beds, and outdoorProblemAreasWhereYouSeeAnts.
Pantry Ant Deterrent
- 5 drops peppermint oil
- 5 drops lavender oil
- Diffuser or cotton balls
Use a diffuser in your pantry to permeate the air. You can also apply diluted oils on cotton balls in cupboards and on shelves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What essential oils are best for keeping ants away?
Some of the most effective essential oils for deterring ants include peppermint, tea tree, lemongrass, clove, lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, cedarwood, thyme, cinnamon, orange, rosemary, basil, and lemon oil. Using a combination of different oils can increase effectiveness.
Are essential oils safe to use around food?
Only food-grade essential oils like peppermint and citrus oils are safe to use around food preparation areas and pantries. Never ingest essential oils unless they are approved as food-grade.
How long do essential oils last for repelling ants?
Essential oils can remain effective for 1-2 weeks typically. However, you may need to reapply them more frequently in problem areas, especially after cleaning which removes oils. Diffusers and vaporizers will also need to be refilled about every week.
What’s the best way to apply essential oils to repel ants?
Using a spray bottle with diluted essential oils mixed with water is one of the easiest application methods. You can also use cotton swabs or balls soaked in oils along trails and entry points. Diffusers are great for distributing scent indoors.
How quickly do essential oils work on ants?
Essential oils can start working to confuse and repel ants in as little as 10-15 minutes. However, you need to be consistent in using the oils to maintain effectiveness and prevent future infestations. Effects last about 1-2 weeks typically.
Are essential oils safe for pets?
Essential oils can be toxic to cats and dogs. Always dilute oils and keep out of reach of pets. Never diffuse oils around birds or reptiles. Consult a vet before using oils if you have pets. Test oils on a small skin area first.
Final Thoughts
Using ant-repelling essential oils is an affordable, safe, and effective alternative to harsh chemical ant killers. Strategically applying oils like peppermint, tea tree, citrus, lavender, eucalyptus, cedarwood, lemongrass, and clove oils can effectively deter ants.
Be sure to dilute oils and use them properly by spraying, diffusing, or using cotton balls to localize application around your home’s interior and exterior. Combining different essential oil scents maximizes effectiveness. Maintaining consistent use of the oils will keep ants confused, unable to follow trails, and deterred from entering your home.
Repelling ants with natural essential oils means you can get rid of these pesky insects without exposing your family or pets to dangerous chemicals. It leaves your home smelling fresh and clean instead of like harsh insecticides.
Try using some DIY essential oil ant spray recipes and monitor their effectiveness. Focus preventative efforts along common ant entry points and trails. With consistent use, you’ll be able to rid your home of ants and make sure they stay gone using these natural oils.