While dogs seem immune to bad smells, there are plenty of scents that most dogs tend to hate. These smells, like citrus and vinegar, are known for being strong and overpowering. Pungent odors can overwhelm your dog’s strong sense of smell, which leads to your dog avoiding areas where the smell is present. Top Smell That Dogs Hate Chili Peppers Onions Ground Spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cardamom, mustard, and cayenne pepper, Garlic Citrus Fruits, such as oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits, Vinegar Fresh Herbs, such as basil, mint, rosemary, and thyme, Alcohol Household Cleaners Strong Perfumes or Colognes Mothballs Nail Polish and Remover. Strong citrus scents are unpleasant for your dog and may deter them from digging up your plants or specific areas in the yard. Citrus scents are excellent for deterring your dog from areas you don't want them to get into. An especially tenacious dog will power through a bad smell to get what they want.