Does Lavender Repel Spiders? The Science, the Best Varieties, and What Actually Works
Does lavender repel spiders? The science says yes — but not the way most articles claim. Learn the real mechanism, the best lavender variety to use, and a DIY spray recipe that targets spiders where they walk.
Every spring, as windows open and seasons change, a familiar scenario plays out in homes everywhere: a spider in the corner, another near the skirting board, and suddenly you’re wondering whether there’s a natural way to discourage them. Lavender is the most commonly recommended plant-based solution — but does it actually work, or is it just a fragrant garden myth?
The honest answer is: it’s complicated. Lavender doesn’t chemically repel spiders the way an insecticide would, and the direct scientific evidence is limited. But that doesn’t mean it’s useless. This article explains exactly how lavender affects spider behaviour, which varieties work best, how to apply it effectively, and what to combine it with for the strongest natural deterrence possible.
For more on this, see growing lavender in zone 5.
The Short Answer: Yes — But Not in the Way You Think
Lavender can deter spiders, but probably not through the direct repellent mechanism most articles describe. Lavender does not chemically “repel” spiders in the same way that DEET repels mosquitoes. Spiders are arachnids, not insects, and their sensory systems respond differently to volatile plant compounds.
What lavender reliably does is repel the insects that spiders eat — and fewer insects in your home means fewer spiders following them in. There is also limited evidence that linalool, lavender’s key active compound, creates an uncomfortable chemical environment for some spider species at sufficient concentrations. So the short answer is: yes, it’s worth using — but you need the right variety, applied strategically, ideally combined with peppermint for stronger effect.
How Spiders Detect Smells — Not Like You’d Expect
Spiders have no nose. Unlike insects — which have centralized olfactory organs on their antennae — spiders “smell” through specialized chemoreceptors distributed across their legs and pedipalps (the small leg-like appendages near their mouths). The tarsal claws at the end of each leg contain chemoreceptive hairs that detect both airborne volatile compounds and chemicals on surfaces, effectively combining smell and taste into a single distributed sense [1]. A 2024 study published in PNAS confirmed that spiders use specialized wall-pore sensilla — microscopic pores in the cuticle — to detect chemical signals in their environment.
This architecture matters enormously for understanding lavender’s effect. Because spiders don’t breathe in scents through a nose, they need to come into contact with — or walk through — a concentrated area of volatile compounds for those compounds to register strongly. A pot of lavender across the room creates pleasant ambient fragrance for you; for the spider crossing the floor, it barely registers. Direct application of lavender essential oil to surfaces spiders walk on is far more effective than simply having a plant nearby.
What the Science Says About Lavender and Spiders
Linalool — Lavender’s Key Compound
The main active compounds in lavender essential oil are linalool and linalyl acetate. Linalool carries enough scientific weight that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered it as an active ingredient in biopesticide products approved for use against fleas, mites, spiders, ticks, and mosquitoes [2]. That regulatory recognition means there is genuine institutional confidence that linalool affects arthropods — though effectiveness varies considerably by species and concentration.
The Best Study on Natural Spider Repellents
The most directly relevant peer-reviewed study on this topic — Fischer, Ayasse and Andrade (2018), published in the Journal of Economic Entomology — tested lemon oil, peppermint oil, and chestnuts against three invasive spider species in controlled conditions [3]. The results were illuminating:
- Mint oil strongly repelled both Latrodectus geometricus and Araneus diadematus
- Chestnuts showed a measurable deterrent effect
- Lemon oil — despite generating over a million Google search results claiming it repels spiders — had zero measurable effect on any spider species tested
Lavender was not among the compounds tested, which means its direct repellent effect on spiders remains formally unstudied. You’ll find plenty of articles claiming it “definitely works” — but those claims aren’t backed by controlled experiments. Treat lavender’s direct effect on spiders as plausible but unproven; treat its effect on the insects spiders eat as well-evidenced.
The Indirect Mechanism: Fewer Insects, Fewer Spiders
Here’s where the science is more solid. Multiple reviews of plant-based repellent research confirm that lavender essential oil effectively repels a wide range of insects, including mosquitoes, moths, flies, and midges [4]. The connection to spiders is straightforward: house spiders are opportunistic predators that follow their prey. Reduce the flying insects in your home and you reduce the food supply that attracts spiders. They don’t move in where there’s nothing to eat.
This indirect mechanism is arguably lavender’s most reliable spider-deterrent benefit — and it’s a compelling reason to use it, even if the direct arachnid repellent effect remains scientifically uncertain.
The Jumping Spider Exception
One important caveat: jumping spiders (Salticidae) — the small, fuzzy, large-eyed spiders commonly found on sunny windowsills — have been reported to be attracted to lavender rather than deterred by it. If jumping spiders are your main concern, peppermint is a more reliable choice. For the common house spiders most people want to deter, lavender remains a sensible option.
Which Lavender Variety Works Best?
Not all lavender is equally potent, and choosing the right variety meaningfully affects how much linalool and linalyl acetate you’re releasing into the air.
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English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) — the classic, widely available variety — is the best all-round choice for home use. It produces a high concentration of both linalool and linalyl acetate, giving it the intensely sweet, floral, familiar lavender fragrance. It’s also the most cold-tolerant and easiest to grow indoors on a windowsill.
You might also find growing lavender in zone 8 helpful here.
Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia) — a natural hybrid of English and spike lavender — has the most potent overall fragrance of any lavender variety. If scent intensity is your goal, lavandin delivers more volatile aromatic compounds per plant than any other variety. The trade-off is a slightly sharper, camphor-tinged note in its fragrance. For spider deterrence specifically, lavandin is arguably the strongest choice.
For the full growing playbook, see our guide to hardy varieties winter survival in zone 5.
French lavender (Lavandula dentata) — recognisable by the distinctive “rabbit ear” bracts topping each flower spike — is visually beautiful but has a weaker, more resinous scent with lower linalool content. Less useful for our purposes, though it makes a lovely ornamental plant.
Spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia) has a strong, medicinal, camphor-heavy scent due to its high 1,8-cineole content. Good for essential oil extraction, but the scent character is quite different from classic lavender and not everyone finds it pleasant for extended indoor use.
Best choice for spider deterrence: English lavender or lavandin — highest aromatic intensity, most pleasant for indoor use.
How to Use Lavender as a Spider Deterrent
Method 1: Potted Plants at Entry Points
The most beautiful and self-renewing approach. Place pots of English lavender or lavandin on south-facing windowsills and near doorways. The plant continuously releases volatile compounds as it grows and especially as it blooms. Gently pinch a few leaves occasionally to trigger additional scent release. One plant per window is a reasonable starting point; replace or rotate plants if they stop blooming, as unflowered lavender releases significantly less aroma.
Method 2: Dried Lavender Sachets
Dried lavender flowers retain their scent for 6–12 months. Small fabric sachets placed in window corners, along skirting boards, in wardrobes, and near air vents create low-maintenance scent barriers at the entry points and resting places spiders favour. Squeeze or rub the sachets every few weeks to refresh the scent release as the surface volatiles dissipate. This is the most passive, maintenance-free option.
Method 3: DIY Lavender Spray — The Most Targeted Application
Because spiders detect chemicals through surface contact, spraying lavender oil directly onto surfaces they walk on — window frames, door frames, skirting boards, corners, cracks — is more effective than ambient scent alone. Essential oils don’t dissolve in water without help, so witch hazel acts as an emulsifier to keep the mixture stable.
DIY Lavender Spider Spray Recipe:
- 200ml distilled water
- 3 tablespoons witch hazel
- 20–25 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil (optional but recommended — adds the mint-family compounds with better direct spider-repellent evidence)
Combine in a 250ml spray bottle. Shake well before each use — essential oils and water naturally separate. Spray onto window frames, door frames, corners, skirting boards, and any visible cracks or gaps. Reapply every 1–2 weeks, or after cleaning treated surfaces.
Safety note: Lavender and peppermint essential oils are toxic to cats. If you share your home with cats, avoid spraying surfaces they regularly walk on or rest near, and ensure any diffuser use happens in a well-ventilated room cats can freely leave.
See also our guide to growing lavender in zone 6.
Method 4: Diffuser
An ultrasonic diffuser with lavender oil creates ambient scent throughout a room. Effectiveness against spiders is lower than direct surface application, since the atmospheric concentration rarely reaches levels that register strongly through spider chemoreceptors. It contributes to the overall aromatic environment and works well combined with the spray method. Use 5–8 drops per 100ml of water in the diffuser reservoir.
Where to Place Lavender for Maximum Effect
Think like a spider: they enter through gaps and travel along walls and floor edges, congregating in undisturbed corners and dark spaces. Strategic placement targets these routes rather than open spaces where lavender scent disperses quickly.
- Window frames and sills — the primary summer entry point; spray the frame itself, not just the sill surface
- Door frames and thresholds — exterior-facing doors, especially those opened frequently in summer
- Skirting boards — spray along the base of external-facing walls in rooms where spiders are commonly seen
- Under and behind furniture — spiders rest in undisturbed spaces; sachets placed beneath sofas and beds help create an unwelcoming environment
- Ventilation gaps and air bricks — ground-floor external vents are a primary entry route
- Loft hatch edges — if spiders regularly descend from above, treat the hatch frame and the first metre of any accessible loft ladder
Other Plants That Also Deter Spiders
Lavender works best as part of a broader natural deterrence strategy. Several other plants and oils have stronger or better-evidenced direct repellent effects:
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) — the gold standard of natural spider repellents, backed by peer-reviewed evidence. Mint oil strongly repelled multiple spider species in controlled testing by Fischer et al. [3]. Grow it in pots near entry points, or add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil to the DIY spray above. It also deters mice — a useful bonus.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) — the intense camphor-and-pine volatile compounds in rosemary are widely reported to overwhelm spider chemoreceptors. It’s one of the easiest herbs to grow on a kitchen windowsill, and it doubles as a culinary ingredient.
Eucalyptus — the powerful menthol-eucalyptol scent acts as a strong chemical deterrent. Full-sized eucalyptus trees aren’t practical indoors, but a small potted specimen or eucalyptus essential oil in the DIY spray above is effective.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) — contains citronellal compounds that repel many insects (cutting the spider food supply) and are reported to deter spiders directly. Easier to grow indoors than citrus trees and more reliably effective than raw citrus peel.
A note on citrus: Despite appearing in many “natural spider repellent” lists, the Fischer et al. 2018 study found that lemon oil had no measurable effect on any spider species tested [3]. Placing orange or lemon peel in corners is a widespread piece of advice with little scientific backing — and the peel dries quickly, reducing even the minimal aromatic effect it might have.
Does Lavender Repel All Spiders? Managing Expectations
Lavender is a deterrent, not an exterminator. Here’s what you can realistically expect from different spider types:
- Common house spiders (Tegenaria spp., Parasteatoda spp.) — some evidence that linalool creates an unfavourable chemical surface environment; regular spray application along wall edges and entry points may meaningfully reduce activity
- Cellar spiders (daddy long-legs spiders) — limited data; plausible deterrence effect but not confirmed in controlled studies
- Jumping spiders — may be attracted rather than deterred; use peppermint instead
- Outdoor garden spiders — lavender in garden beds is unlikely to have meaningful deterrent effect at outdoor scale
If you have a significant infestation, or if the spiders in your home are venomous species (rare in the UK and most of Europe; more relevant in parts of Australia, the USA, and Southern Africa), lavender is not a substitute for professional pest control. It is a preventative measure and mild deterrent — effective as part of a regular maintenance routine, not as a one-time fix.
How to Grow Lavender Indoors
The most effective lavender deterrent is a living plant — continuous, self-renewing, and requiring no refills. Lavender can thrive indoors with the right conditions, though it has specific needs worth knowing before you buy.
Light: Lavender is a Mediterranean plant that needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily [5]. A south-facing windowsill is ideal; east or west-facing will work with a supplemental grow light. Without sufficient light, the plant survives but stops blooming — and an unflowered lavender releases far less aromatic compound than one in full bloom.
Watering: Let the top inch of soil dry between waterings. Overwatering is the most common way lavender dies indoors — it evolved for dry, rocky Mediterranean hillsides. Water thoroughly, allow complete drainage, and never let the pot sit in standing water. Yellowing leaves are usually a sign of too much water, not too little.
Soil and pot: Use a free-draining mix — standard potting compost blended 50/50 with perlite or horticultural grit. Terra cotta pots are ideal because moisture escapes through the unglazed walls, reducing the risk of root rot.
Pruning: After the main flush of flowering, cut stems back by about a third. This keeps the plant compact and prevents it becoming a woody, sparse stick. Never cut back into the old brown wood — new growth won’t emerge from it.
Feeding: A half-strength balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during spring and summer is sufficient. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which promote leaf growth at the expense of flowers — and flowers are where most of the aromatic output originates.
A Practical Action Plan
Lavender’s case as a spider deterrent rests on two foundations: a plausible direct effect from linalool on spider chemoreceptors — supported by EPA recognition as a biopesticide compound — and a well-evidenced indirect effect through reducing the insects spiders hunt. Neither mechanism is a guaranteed spider elimination, but together they make lavender a genuinely useful part of a natural home pest strategy.
Here’s a simple five-step plan to put it all into practice:
- Plant English lavender or lavandin on your south-facing windowsills, particularly those you open regularly in summer
- Mix the DIY spray (200ml distilled water + 3 tbsp witch hazel + 20 drops lavender oil + 10 drops peppermint oil) and apply it to all window frames, door frames, and skirting boards along external walls
- Place dried sachets in wardrobes, under furniture, and near air vents
- Add a peppermint plant alongside lavender — mint-family compounds have the strongest direct peer-reviewed evidence of natural spider deterrence
- Reapply the spray every 1–2 weeks during peak spider season (late summer through autumn) — this is when house spiders are most active and most likely to move indoors
Combined, these measures reduce the insect prey that attracts spiders and create chemically unwelcoming surfaces along the routes spiders travel. That’s a more effective strategy than any single plant alone — and far more fragrant than the alternatives.
References
- Barth FG. “Mechano- and Chemoreceptive Sensilla.” In: Ecophysiology of Spiders. Springer, 1987.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Linalool (011550) Fact Sheet.” EPA Biopesticides Registration.
- Fischer A, Ayasse M, Andrade MCB. “Natural Compounds as Spider Repellents: Fact or Myth?” Journal of Economic Entomology, 2018.
- Maia MF, Moore SJ. “Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing.” Malaria Journal, 2011.
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac. “Lavender: Planting, Growing, and Caring for Lavender.” Almanac.com, 2024.
