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It’s unclear why spiders steer clear of peppermint oil and other essential oils. One theory is that they dislike strong odors. Because spiders smell and taste with their legs, they may...
You can take advantage of a spider’s strong sense of smell by using scents that will repel them, such as vinegar, mint, catnip, cayenne pepper, citrus, marigold, and chestnut. Below you’ll find scents that spiders are repelled by and the best technique to use them.
While we’re still unsure why spiders hate peppermint exactly, we can look to a couple of studies that affirm this fact. One study in particular revealed that mint strongly repelled spiders. Another showed that essential oils like peppermint oil contains monoterpenoids.
The exact reason why spiders hate peppermint oil so much isn’t apparent, but there are some theories and plenty of anecdotal evidence. One hypothesis is that the intense aroma throws off their own sense of smell.
Mint plants, for instance, emit a strong fragrance that spiders find unpleasant. Specifically, peppermint and spearmint are quite effective. Lemon balm and lemon verbena, with their citrusy scents, can also repel spiders. Interestingly, spiders have a strong aversion to herbs like lavender and sage.
A peppermint oil spray is a safe, natural and effective way to control spiders in your home. The peppermint solution can be mixed with some water in a spray bottle and sprayed wherever there might be an infestation of spiders.
There’s no specific study that explains why peppermint repels, while another oil does not, but it’s believed the strong menthol odor is just too intense for a spider. Even in nature, insects co-opt this smell to fend off spider attacks.