What smell do roaches absolutely hate?

Cockroaches have a sensitive sense of smell and are repelled by certain strong, pungent odors, though smell alone will not eliminate an infestation. The smells roaches hate most include peppermint oil, which has a strong menthol scent that overwhelms their olfactory receptors and is often used on cotton balls placed near entry points, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, and cedar oil which are strong and irritating to them. They also dislike the smell of bay leaves, especially crushed bay leaves, which contain eucalyptol, garlic, onion, and strong citrus scents like lemon and orange peels. Some people use vinegar and ammonia because their strong chemical smells deter roaches temporarily. However, like with mice and rats, scent repellents only cause short-term avoidance and roaches quickly habituate if food, water, and shelter remain available. Cockroaches are attracted to food crumbs, grease, moisture, and dark hiding places, so the most effective control is sanitation, removing food sources, fixing leaks, sealing cracks and crevices with caulk, reducing clutter, and using bait stations and traps rather than relying on smells. Professional pest control with gel baits and insect growth regulators is far more effective than any scent repellent for long-term elimination of cockroaches.