What do bed bugs smell like? Could you verify an infestation by simply smelling them?

I believe this is a complicated issue because – unless you captured some bed bugs and directly smelled them or lived amongst a severe infestation with literally dozens upon dozens around you, how do you know you weren’t smelling the scent of something else in your home? This is especially the case for individuals that use non-traditional solutions for monitoring or killing bed bugs.

I remember when I first discovered my infestation, I was quite open to various green and “safe” techniques that were suggested to me. A friend recommended I used an ancient Chinese method that involved applying a garlic based powder, similar in style as your pest control operator might apply diatomaceous earth. Interestingly enough, that garlic based powder is actually used in Chinese cooking.

The question here is, how do I know that the bed bug scent I was smelling so often wasn’t the actual scent of bed bugs, and not the garlic powder that was applied? Additionally, that scent could have just been the scent of the old apartment building I was living in and I was simply more susceptible and sensitive to smells once discovering my infestation? I’m sure you get the point - with all of the various methods (DIY methods, various oils, dusts, etc.), how can one directly pinpoint and attribute a specific smell to bed bugs? The garlic powder I used had the same attributes that experts and professionals used to describe the scent of bed bugs, “dry”, “sweet”, “musky”, “rosy”, etc. To this day I’m not sure what bed bugs smell like, although I think I have a general idea of it.

Bed bugs certainly have a scent – since canine detection services rely on that specific smell. But I would not rely on the bed bug scent to verify an infestation. It certainly could be one of the symptoms, but concretely defining their smell is difficult.

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