Surprising Reason Rats Invade Homes: Your Fragrant Soaps and Candles!

• Rats seek warm places in winter, leading them to enter homes and hide in various spots like kitchens, bathrooms, and cupboards.
• A research study suggests that fragrant items such as soaps and candles attract rats into homes.
• Soaps contain fatty acids, glycerol, and other fragrant substances that slowly oxidize and release scents, mimicking food signals for rats.
• Candles made from paraffin, soy, and plant-based waxes release chemicals like aldehydes, esters, and terpenes, which are also found in rats' natural food sources.
• To deter rats, store low-fragrance soaps and candles in airtight metal containers and ensure good ventilation in areas where they are kept.

Why It Matters: Fragrant soaps and candles attract rats to homes by mimicking natural food and habitat scents.