R.W.
Frankly, I don't think any natural products really help. A family member battled ants without chemicals, without success, for 5 long years--- and finally broke down and called a pest company. They sprayed once, outside, and she never saw ants again!
Maybe you could try leaving "meals" outside for them, some cut fruit, since they seem to want sweet stuff....if they are just needing food that bad that they seem to be "waiting"... Maybe they would find it and congregate on it outside, instead of coming inside?