What smell do flies hate most?

What smell flies hate most includes several strong, pungent smells that interfere with their ability to find food or have repellent properties, though no smell alone provides complete protection and should be combined with sanitation. Smells flies hate most include peppermint oil, which is commonly cited as natural repellent with strong mint scent that flies dislike, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, citronella, clove oil, and basil oil. They hate smell of vinegar, though vinegar also attracts fruit flies, so context matters, houseflies dislike vinegar. They hate smell of cinnamon and cayenne pepper. They hate smell of garlic and strong herbs like basil, rosemary, and tansy that have been traditionally used to repel flies. They hate smell of camphor and pine. To use smells flies hate, you can mix few drops of peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil with water in spray bottle and spray around windows, doors, and outdoor seating areas, or place cotton balls with essential oils near areas where flies frequent, or plant herbs like basil, rosemary, lavender in garden and near doorways. However, essential oils evaporate quickly requiring reapplication and should be used carefully around pets, especially cats as concentrated oils can be toxic. Most effective fly prevention is sanitation, keep food covered, seal trash cans, clean up spills and overripe fruits, remove standing water, and use screens on windows and doors, as flies are attracted to garbage and decaying matter.