What Smells Do Mice Hate? | Bad Odur For Mice

Are you looking for things that can repel mice? Did you know mice are afraid of strongly scented items?

Mice can cause so much havoc, and you must chase them away from your homes! But are you clueless about how you can do it? 

Don’t worry! We are here to help you! This article will give you details on smells that mice hate. You will also know how to use these to your advantage and repel mice. 

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So keep reading to learn more about what smells mice hate and how you can keep them away with these scents! 

Smells That Mice Hate The Most

Mice hates smell of certain things which you can use to shoo them away for good. Here is a list of these items and a note on how to use them to repel mice easily. 

Peppermint Oil – Good Or Bad Scent?

Studies show that mice don’t like peppermint oil’s minty smell and tend to avoid places with it. Also, peppermint oil can give an excellent scent to your house.

By diffusing peppermint oil into your homes, you can repel mice and at the same time also get a good aroma in the house.

  • Soak some cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them in potential places of mice activity like the back of cupboards or behind furniture. 
  • This helps prevent mice from nesting in those places, thus removing the possibility of an infestation. 
rats hate peppermint oil

Cinnamon As Mice Repellent?

Another one in the list of fragnance that mice hate is cinnamon.

Cinnamon is a simple yet powerful natural mice repellent. The aroma of this spice deters mice. 

  • Snap a few cinnamon sticks and place them in the corners of the house to diffuse the smell. 
  • You can also use cinnamon powder mixed in high concentration with essential oils or cinnamon oil itself. 

Do Mice Repel Smell Of Vinegar?

When left undiluted, vinegar has the most pungent smell, and we know that mice hate strong smells. The strong sour smell of vinegar can repel many creatures, let alone mice. 

  • Mix some vinegar and water in a spray bottle. 
  • Spray in areas where there is mice activity and expected places where they might go. 

Though it’s effective, having your house smell of vinegar is not so pleasant. 

Dryer Sheets Smells Bad For Mice?

One of the smell mice hate most is of dryer sheets for some reason. They find it pungent. And what’s better is that you are spared all the sprinkling and spraying processes. 

  • Just stick a dryer sheet in your small spaces that mice may be drawn to and leave them for up to a week at a time. 
  • You will have to replace the sheet weekly as the scent might wear out afterward. 

Can Tea Bags Repel Mice?

The scent of tea is also said to repel mice. What mice hate more is peppermint tea. If you’re a regular tea drinker, this is the easiest method. 

  • Boil some water, make the tea, let it sit, and place the teabag in different corners of your home. The aroma of the tea will repel mice. 
tea repel mice

Mint Having A Pungent Aroma?

This herb is so appealing to humans but not so appealing to mice. Mice dislike the pungent aroma of mint so much. 

  • Plant some mint plants in small pots around the house to help deter mice.
  • You can crush mint leaves and put them behind furniture and appliances, near old entry holes, cracks in the foundation, and more.
  • Sprinkling a few drops of strong mint extract oil will work as well.

Do Mice Like Cloves And Clove Oil?

Clove has an unpleasant and spicy flavor(at least to mice) that they don’t like.

  • You could use whole cloves by wrapping them in cloth pieces.
  • You could also soak cotton balls in clove essential oil and place them around your home.

Eucalyptus Repels Rodents Like Mice

Eucalyptus also has been proven to have a strong deterrent effect on rodents. This is good news because eucalyptus can help repel rats and mice. It can significantly reduce the possibility of an infestation on your house. 

You can prepare a simple DIY eucalyptus oil spray to repel mice by following these steps:

  • Combine two teaspoons of pure eucalyptus oil with one cup of water and a few drops of liquid detergent in a spray bottle.
  • Mix well and use this concoction to spray on areas of your house where mice are most likely to be found.
  • Repeat this process weekly to keep the scent fresh and the mice at bay.

Are Mice Afraid Of Black Pepper?

Mice are afraid of the strong smell of black pepper. Black pepper contains piperine which irritates the nasal passages of mice. This terrorizes mice, and they tend to avoid places with odor. 

Black pepper can also reduce the appetite of female mice, reducing their mating activity. This, in turn, can repel them. 

  • Crush some black pepper and put it inside small bags or coffee filters and place it where there is mice activity like cabinets, countertops, and near garbage bags. 
  • You can also scatter some piles of black pepper directly. 
  • Replace the black pepper piles or bags every 24 hours to ensure the highest effectiveness.
black pepper for rats

Is Cedar Wood Toxic To Mice?

Yes, cedarwood oil is toxic to mice. It has a fragrant, woodsy scent that is very unpleasant to them.

This essential oil can smell worse to mice, and you can use it to repel them. The smell can even make them avoid coming indoors. 

  • Grab some cedar chips
  • Scatter them outside your house to keep mice away, especially near garbage bags, cans, and waste piles. 

Cedar has a naturally sweet smell to humans; adding them near your garbage cans can reduce its odor. 

Are Chili Peppers Spicy For Mice?

Yes, Chili peppers contain capsaicin, a spicy compound. This compound is also an excellent mice repellent.

  • Scatter cayenne pepper around the outside of your house, particularly to places where mice may gain entry, like holes and cracks.
  • You can also apply it inside your house where mice may like to hang out, like behind furniture or in crawl spaces.

How to Use Essential Oils To Repel Mice 

  • Look for candles impregnated with essential oils. Such candles can diffuse the aroma of essential oils, and this smell can keep mice away. 
  • Use an oil burner. This can heat the essential oils until they form vapors. These vapors impregnate the air giving a fragrance that can de-stress you and repel mice. 
  • Try a reed diffuser. A reed diffuser is an easy way to fill the air in your home with the scent of mouse-repelling essential oils. Set a few up around your house to keep rodents outside.

Final Words

Mice are so sensitive to strong smell that they rely so much on their sense of smell.

Knowing which smells mice can help you repel them by using those to your advantage. 

So try the various methods and see which works best for you.

Make sure to be aware of the areas where mice live in your house and take action accordingly.

Have a safe and healthy environment! 

Photo of author

Author

I'm Daniel White, and I live in Jacksonville, Florida. The warm and humid climate of Florida gives an ideal habitat for many different kinds of pests. So, if I had to live in Florida, I had to learn how to deal with these pests. Now, I have 7 years of experience in Pest Control.

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