What smell do termites hate?

Termites are said to hate several strong natural smells that interfere with their pheromone trails and can act as mild deterrents, but it is important to understand that no smell alone will eliminate an established termite colony. The most commonly cited smells that termites dislike include cedarwood oil, which contains compounds like cedrol that are toxic and repellent to termites, and is why cedar is naturally more resistant than pine. Orange oil containing d-limonene is another well-known repellent and is actually used in some professional spot treatments for drywood termites because it can dissolve their exoskeletons on contact. Other strong essential oils that termites avoid include clove oil with eugenol, garlic oil, peppermint oil, lemongrass oil, tea tree oil, and vetiver oil. Vinegar has a strong acetic acid smell that can disrupt termite scent trails temporarily. Some homeowners also use borate-treated wood which has little smell to humans but deters feeding. While these smells may repel small numbers of foraging termites or make an area less attractive, subterranean termites live deep underground in colonies of hundreds of thousands and will simply find another entry point. For any active infestation, natural smells are not a substitute for professional liquid termiticides like fipronil or bait systems like Sentricon that eliminate the entire colony.