How are Smells Associated with Bed Bugs?

The sense of smell often comes up when discussing bed bugs. This is for two main reasons. First, a bed bug infestation gives off a particular smell that some people may be able to detect. And second, there are certain smells that may actually repel bed bugs. In this article we will go into some depth about both facets of smell in relation to bed bugs.

How Bed Bugs Smell

Bed bugs are a tiny parasite that live in furniture and more commonly beds. They will bite and feed on a person when they are asleep. This usually causes little red bumps on the skin. But, bed bug bites are not always easily detected.

You can pull back your sheets and look at the bed with a magnifying glass to see if you have an infestation. Sometimes this method works but does not always. If you own a bed with porous cloth material they maybe down inside the mattress.

Another way to tell if you have bed bugs is if your room has a peculiar smell to it. The smell that bed bugs create is often described as “coriander”. Coriander is the flower and seed part of the same plant as cilantro. Coriander and cilantro do not smell the same however. Coriander smell has been described by healthline.com: “coriander has a warmer, spicy and nutty taste and aroma.” This smell is produced by the bed bug from a gland on its body.

Smells that Repel

It is believed by many in the holistic world that certain smells can repel bed bugs. These smell producing items are cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil, clove oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil, thyme oil, tea tree oil, and eucalyptus oil.

If you don’t currently have bed bugs and are worried about them infesting your bed, we can see no reason why not to try these natural smells to repel them. But if you already have an infestation, these items simply will not work in getting rid of them.

One of the bigger misconceptions is that people can get rid of bed bugs very easily themselves. They believe they can set off a fogger and the problem is solved. It is not that easy. Hiring a professional pest company is the single best way to ensure that your bed bug infestation gets resolved correctly.