Squirrels are fun to watch, but no one wants them inside their home or garden for a good reason: they’re destructive.
Luckily, these rodents have a strong smell for finding food and shelter. (See What Do Squirrels Eat?)
So, you can deter squirrels with scents they hate, such as white vinegar, peppermint oil, Irish Spring soap, rosemary, dryer sheets, predator urine, cinnamon, capsaicin, etc.
Below, I will discuss scents you can use as a natural repellent. You probably have some natural repellents in your kitchen, so let’s dive right in.
What Smells Do Squirrels Hate the Most?
Most people consider squirrels as pests because they invade and damage homes. Also, grey squirrels visit people’s gardens and eat their fruits and plants.
If you have a pest problem, don’t worry because you can easily deter these rodents with pungent smells, such as the following:
Apple Cider Vinegar
Squirrels can’t stand the odor of apple cider vinegar. That’s why you can use this product as a natural squirrel repellent.
First, soak towels in apple cider vinegar. Then, leave the towels in various areas of your home, such as the attic, basement, etc. Replace the old towels with freshly soaked ones every few days because they quickly lose potency.
Spicy Scents
Spicy odors, such as white, black, and cayenne pepper, can help repel squirrels; these rodents have a strong smell, so they can’t handle sharp odors.
You can also use chili powder or mix cayenne pepper with other types of pepper.
Mothballs
Mothballs have a distinctive smell that squirrels hate. Therefore, you can keep squirrels at bay by leaving mothballs in specific rooms, such as the attic or beside your plants.
Skunk-Like Smells
Squirrels don’t like skunk-like odors. While you can’t bottle up the unpleasant smell of skunk, you can use crown imperials as a substitute.
Crown imperials have a smell that resembles one of the skunks. Therefore, you can use this plant as a natural squirrel repellent.
You can buy royal crown bulbs at local garden centers.
Animal Urine
Squirrels despise areas that smell like animal urine. They specifically dislike the smell of their predators.
If they smell something resembling the pee of their predators, they will believe they’re in danger and avoid the area.
Mint
Squirrels don’t like sharp smells, such as mint. So, you can plant mint inside your home or around your garden and repel squirrels. Also, mint smells lovely and grows easily, so your home will remain fresh and squirrel-free.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has a sharp and spicy scent, which squirrels hate. So, if you’re looking for a way to repel squirrels, consider ground cinnamon.
Ground cinnamon in larger amounts can irritate the sinus cavities of these rodents. So, sprinkle this spice around the areas you’re trying to keep squirrel-free.
However, you should reapply cinnamon every few days for the best results, especially if you’re using this natural squirrel repellent outside; wind can blow the spice away.
Alternatively, you can use diluted cinnamon oil.
Mix a few drops of diluted cinnamon oil with peppermint oil in a clean spray bottle. Then, soak a rag with this solution. You can leave the rag in your garden, attic, or other space inside or outside your property.
Garlic
If you have garlic in your kitchen, you’re all set because squirrels hate garlic.
Garlic has a pungent smell that can overpower the scent of other plants in your garden and force squirrels out of your property.
First, finely chop the garlic cloves. Then, spread the pieces in a concentrated place near your plants. The strong odor will fade within days, so you should reapply the garlic every few days for better results.
Dryer Sheets
Many people consider dryer sheets as natural repellents for rodents and insects.
For instance, farmers of orchards would spread dryer sheets along their deer fences to repel deer. Also, dryer sheets deter rats, squirrels, etc.
Therefore, consider dryer sheets if you’re looking for a quick, easy, and effective rodent repellent. They’re common products present in everyone’s home.
If you have dryer sheets, tie a few near the areas you’re trying to keep squirrel-free, like your attic, basement, garden, etc.
If you have scented dryer sheets, such as mint-scented ones, you’re lucky because they work even better.
As I already mentioned, strong scents repel squirrels. So, hang or tie a handful of these sheets inside or outside your home and watch for results.
Some say that Bounce dryer sheets work extremely well for repelling squirrels because of their distinctive aroma.
Irish Spring Soap
Aromatic soaps have tones in their fragrance that can deter rodents, including squirrels and raccoons. Some say the Irish Spring soap successfully repels squirrels.
Squirrels hate the woody aroma of this soap. So, grate a soap bar in a plastic bag, add the shavings in your attic, basement, or garden, and watch for results.
You should replace the shavings regularly because they lose potency after a few days.
Rosemary
If the scents above don’t work at chasing away the squirrels from your property, you can try rosemary; squirrels dislike the sharp smell of rosemary.
However, not every plant has the same potency. So, you should find a strong one; if it’s a weak scent of rosemary, the squirrels won’t run away.
You can make a squirrel repellent with rosemary essential oil and water and spray your home or garden with the solution.
Call local pest control experts for help if these solutions don’t work.
Final Tips
Squirrels have a strong smell, so they can’t handle sharp scents, especially overly spicy or sweet ones, such as garlic, peppermint, pepper, and coffee.
You can make a squirrel deterrent spray with essential oils and water or plant garlic and mint in your garden. These methods will deter squirrels and other rodents.
If you have hibiscus plants, you can sprinkle coffee grounds for protection. You can also apply black or cayenne pepper over plants to keep squirrels at bay. If you don’t have these two, you can try white pepper.
Avoid using scents of foods that squirrels consume, such as berries. Otherwise, you can attract rodents instead of chasing them away.
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