In stories , garlic is often used for keeping vampires away . A branch of wild rose and hawthorn plant are said to hurt vampires , and in Europe , putting mustard seeds on the roof of a house was said to keep them away . Garlic is a common example , a branch of wild rose and hawthorn plant are said to harm vampires , and in Europe , sprinkling mustard seeds on the roof of a house was said to keep them away .