Bed bugs are said to hate many strong smells, but scientific studies show that no smell alone will repel them completely or eliminate an infestation, though some scents can deter them temporarily. The smells most frequently cited as disliked by bed bugs include lavender, which contains linalool that is toxic to bed bugs in high concentrations in lab settings and is often recommended as a mild deterrent when diluted and sprayed on bedding, though it does not kill colonies. Peppermint oil with its strong menthol scent is also said to repel bed bugs and is used in some natural sprays, but its effect fades quickly once dry. Tea tree oil has a pungent smell that bed bugs dislike and has some insecticidal properties in concentrated form, but can irritate skin and is not effective as a sole treatment. Other smells reported to deter bed bugs include blood orange oil, eucalyptus, citronella, and cedarwood, which are used in some natural bed bug sprays. However, pest control professionals emphasize that bed bugs are attracted primarily by carbon dioxide and body heat, not by smell, so scent deterrents do not stop them from feeding. The most effective way to kill bed bugs is not smell but sustained heat above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours, thorough vacuuming, encasing mattresses and box springs, and professional chemical treatment with residual insecticides and growth regulators. Relying only on smells can give false security and allow infestations to worsen.
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