In a 2013 field study and expert advice from Rick Young, clove essential oil emerges as a way to reduce wasps in UK gardens. Clove essential oil, the spicy bathroom‑cabinet staple, releases a scent that wasps find overwhelming, so they are far less keen to linger where it hangs in the air. The trick lies in how you use it around your garden table. A busy garden table effectively broadcasts a buffet invitation. How to use clove oil around your garden seating areaStart by choosing pure clove essential oil rather than a bathroom fragrance product, which may not contain eugenol at all.