If you are a bug magnet like me, you will appreciate this life-changing (dare I say it) project! Make these citronella candles yourself and see for yourself how effective a mosquito repellant candle can be! I especially appreciate that these candles are made with all-natural ingredients, with no toxic ingredients whatsoever.
If you’re like me, the summer months are the perfect time to spend time outdoors. In cooler climates like where I live, the long, warm summer days are the perfect time for gardening and sunbathing outdoors. There was just one small problem: mosquitoes.
I don’t know why but mosquitoes seem to really love me (that love is Are not returned!). The mosquitoes left me with big, itchy welts when they fed in the morning and evening. Ouch!
Thankfully, after years of experimentation and trial and error, I’ve developed a few methods for naturally deterring these pests. One of my favorites is these homemade citronella candles.
This article will cover…
Do citronella candles really work?
I first posted this article in 2016 and since then, there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the topic of citronella candles and their effectiveness in repelling mosquitoes.
Recently, several articles have been published citing a study claiming that citronella candles are ineffective. However, that is Are not What does the research really show?
Studies say that if you are trying to protect yourself from Zika, malaria, or other mosquito-borne diseases, you should not use citronella candles.
I totally agree with this! If you are going to be somewhere with a lot of that disease or if you are at higher risk, I would not rely on lemongrass to keep you safe.
However, if you are out in the garden or on your porch sipping a glass of wine, and you place a few of these candles around to protect your space, they can be effective.
It’s not that mosquitoes are disgusted by this smell, but because it can help hide it. your scent. As you burn the candle, essential oils are continuously released into the air, keeping your scent hidden.
Studies have shown that Citronella candles are about 40% effective. This means that 60% of the time, you may get bitten.
I still prefer to use all natural bug spray combined with citronella candles to reduce the risk of insect bites rather than using DEET and chemicals every day just to prevent insect bites.
Is it 100% effective? No. But when used in combination, I think it can be an effective ally in the fight against mosquitoes.
That’s why I arm myself with a combination of citronella candles, mosquito repellent pots, and homemade bug sprays using natural essential oils. This combo is a powerful one-two punch that keeps those pesky mosquitoes away without exposing me (and my garden!) to any harmful chemicals.
Other scents to use in Citronella candles
Truth be told, I personally don’t. exceed I’m crazy about the smell of lemongrass, but I’ll happily deal with it to avoid having to constantly swat myself to kill flying insects.
Although the most effective candles are still primarily citronella scented, you can still add a few other scents. To make the candle smell more pleasant to me (but still effective), I experimented by adding a few other scents to my latest batch of citronella candles, such as:
You may have to experiment a little and see which combination you like best, but that’s part of the fun of making your own candles.
How to make citronella candles
With just a few simple natural ingredients and a little time, you’ll have mosquito repellent candles to use all over your yard!
Materials
Let’s do it!
1. Add the wick to the center of the can or container. The best way I’ve found to use this is with a hot glue gun. Be sure to press the wick down firmly. (and be careful as hot glue can cause burns).
If you are using a larger container, you can add two or three wicks spaced around the center.
2. Assemble the double boiler and add the wax or old candle in small pieces. Don’t worry too much about wick pieces or other small particles in the wax.because you won’t see them in the candles when they burn out.
3. Warm up wax at moderate temperature until completely melted. This should not take long. Stir occasionally to help it melt evenly.
4. Once the wax is melted, it’s time to add the fragrance. Add 1 oz of citronella oil per pound of wax and enhance the scent with 0.5 oz of other flavorings per pound. If you only like lemongrass, you can use 1.5 oz per pound.
5. Let the wax cool and carefully pour it into containers. I can usually gently adjust the candle wick to stay centered as the wax cools, but if you have trouble, Secure the wicks with chopsticks or clothespins to keep them aligned.
6. Allow candle to dry for 48 hours without stirring before burning. Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before lighting the candle. Then, once the candle is lit, let it burn until there is a large, full puddle of wax before blowing it out. This will ensure that the candle burns evenly throughout its life.
Making Citronella Candles: Helpful Tips
If you’re new to candle making (or citronella candle making), check out these quick tips to ensure success:
- Be careful not to disturb them too much and place them in a warm place to cool. Cooling slowly and completely will produce the most beautiful candles.
- If you see a concave area around the wick when it cools, warm up a little more wax and pour it into the void.
- Decorate your citronella candle with pack them up with burlap, rope and/or wool.
- Keep them near your garden, deck or porch so you can quickly light them up when bugs start flying around.
Reuse old items to save money
While this project is fairly inexpensive, there are still costs involved—and ways to save some money. Here are some helpful tips to help you save a little money when making citronella candles.
Reuse containers
You may notice from the photos that these mosquito repellent candles come in cans. I love this project because making citronella candles in cans is not only a great, natural way to repel mosquitoes, but it is also a Great recycling project reuse your cans.
Plus, this is a simple and inexpensive project, quite similar to the soy wax jar candles I made a while back.
I like to use old metal cans for this project. They don’t even have to be shiny. The rust looks awesome! However, if you don’t have a can, you can also use a glass jar.
My only word of caution when using glasses is Avoid using jars that are too large. I recommend keeping them a pint size or smaller so the glass doesn’t shatter when the hot wax heats the jar.
Don’t have any cans on hand? Try making citronella candles in a terracotta pot this summer.
Reuse old wax
The wax cost was the most expensive part of this project. If you want to cut costs, scrape the old wax out of a previously used container and remelt it to make new candles.
Tips: If you want to try this, freeze an old wax container overnight, then the next morning, use a butter knife and carefully peel the wax off the edge of the container. You may find that chunks of wax come off at once!
Frequently Asked Questions About Making Homemade Citronella Candles
I use lemongrass essential oil. You can get it pretty cheap at candle stores or online. You can also use fragrance oil, which is usually cheaper and less “clean”, but will still get the job done.
I add 1 oz of lemongrass essential oil per pound of wax, then add 0.5 oz of other fragrance of my choice. If you are just using lemongrass essential oil as a fragrance, you can use 1.5 oz.
I just used a hot glue gun to secure the wick to the bottom of the container. If you don’t have a hot glue gun, you can also use wick stickers.
I hope this tutorial will help you easily make your own citronella candles!
More ways to keep mosquitoes away
Homemade Citronella Candles
My tutorial shows you how to do it. citronella candle from recycled tin soup cans, recycled and natural candle wax lemongrass oil.
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1. Using a hot glue gun, glue the wick to the bottom of the can and press firmly into the center. If you are using a larger can, add two or three wicks evenly spaced around the center.
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2. Assemble the double boiler and add the wax or old candle in small pieces. Don’t worry too much about wick pieces or other particles in the wax as you won’t see them in the finished candle.
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3. Heat over medium heat until wax is completely melted.
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4. Once the wax is melted, it’s time to add the fragrance. Add 1 oz of citronella essential oil per pound of wax and enhance the fragrance with 0.5 oz of another fragrance per pound.
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5. Allow the wax to cool slightly and carefully pour it into a container. I can usually gently adjust the wicks to stay centered as the wax cools, but if you’re having trouble, secure the wicks with chopsticks or clothespins to keep them aligned.
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6. Let the candle dry undisturbed for 48 hours before burning. Then, when you burn the candle, let it burn until there is a large, full puddle of wax before you blow it out. Candles are said to have a memory, so it is best to let the first burn set the tone for all the other burns.
