Does Citronella Keep Bees Away?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 06, 2023

The scent of citronella is very effective at keeping unwanted bees away. A few citronella candles around the perimeter of a home should be sufficient in warding off bees as well as other pests such as mosquitoes.

Another way of keeping bees away is to entice them to blossoming flowers in a whiskey barrel or other attractive container a safe distance away from the home. Other natural remedies include spreading cucumber peels around the yard, spraying almond oil in the hive and mixing soap, sugar and water in a basin to replicate honey, as this lures them in and drowns them. Removal of a beehive should only be attempted by a professional pest control service.