Peppermint oil Peppermint oil is another potent deterrent ... spicy scent is also effective in deterring rats from entering your home or garden. Janet stated: "The strong, spicy scent of cinnamon ...
Jordan claims that rats 'hate' peppermint and advises uses an oil-based version of the strong scent as a deterrent. "Place cotton in the burrow after it's been dipped in peppermint," he recommends.
Rats don’t like strong scents such as garlic powder or peppermint oil so if you’ve got some vulnerable areas in your garden, it’s worth sprinkling some on the ground to deter them.
"Something as silly as the fact that rats as a species are neophobic ... She also suggested planting daffodils and hyacinths and using peppermint oil as a deterrent.