How to Make Candles
How to Make Citronella Candles at Home to Repel Insects
Decorative Home Candle
How to Make Citronella Candles
Make these citronella candles and experience firsthand how effective a mosquito-repelling candle can be! I especially appreciate that these candles are made with all-natural ingredients and contain no harmful chemicals.
Summer is the perfect time to spend outdoors. It’s usually cooler where the long, warm days are great for gardening and sunbathing. There’s just one little problem: mosquitoes.
I don’t know what it is, but mosquitoes seem to completely love me (it’s not mutual love!). They leave me with big, itchy bumps as they feast during the early morning and evening hours. Oh!
Fortunately, after years of testing and many experiments, I’ve developed a few natural ways to keep these pests away. One of my favorites is this citronella candle.
Do Citronella Candles Really Work?
I first published this post in 2016, and since then, there has been much debate about the topic of citronella candles and their effectiveness in repelling mosquitoes.
Studies say if you want to protect yourself from Zika, malaria, or other mosquito-borne diseases, you shouldn’t rely on citronella candles.
I completely agree with this! If you’re going to an area where these diseases are prevalent or are at higher risk, you shouldn’t depend on citronella to keep yourself safe.
However, if you are relaxing in your garden or on your patio and place a few of these candles to protect your space, they can be effective.
Not because mosquitoes hate the smell, but because it can help mask your scent. When the candles burn, the oil is continuously released into the air, hiding your scent.
Studies have shown that citronella candles work about 40% of the time. This means you may still get bitten 60% of the time.
I still prefer to use a completely natural insect repellent spray along with citronella candles to reduce the chances of getting bitten rather than dousing myself daily with DEET and chemicals to prevent bites.
Is this 100% effective? No. But, when used together, I think it can be an effective ally in the battle against mosquitoes.
For this reason, I arm myself with a combination of citronella candles, mosquito-repellent garden plants, and an insect-repellent spray that utilizes natural essential oils. This combination is an effective one-two punch that keeps annoying mosquitoes away without exposing myself (and my garden!) to any harmful chemicals.
I especially use citronella candles at night when the heat has cooled down and mosquitoes come out.
Other Scents for Using in Citronella Candles
In fact, I personally don’t wildly love the smell of citronella, but I’m happy to put up with it to avoid doing a silly dance to swat myself to kill the flying pests.
While the most effective candles will still largely be citronella, you can also add a few other scents. To make the candles smell better for me (while still being effective), I have experimented by adding a few extra scents to my latest batch of citronella candles, such as:
Pine
Mandarin Orange
Eucalyptus
Rosemary
Mint
Oregano
You may have to experiment a little and see which blend you like best, but that’s part of the fun of candle-making.
How to Make Citronella Candles
With a few simple and natural ingredients and just a little time, you’ll have your mosquito-repelling candles ready for use all around your yard!
Citronella Candle
Materials Needed
A container – I used recycled cans, but you can also use jars
A double boiler (or here’s a handy candle-making kit)
Wax (soy wax, paraffin wax, old candles)
Pre-waxed wicks with tabs (150mm / 6 inches)
Citronella oil to make the candles (use 1 ounce per pound of wax)
Optional – other scents to add with citronella
Hot glue gun
1. Add the wicks to the center of your can or container. The best method I’ve found to use is a hot glue gun. Make sure to press the wick down securely (and carefully because hot glue can burn).
If you’re using a larger container, you can space two or three wicks around the center.
2. Assemble your double boiler and add wax or old candles in small pieces. Don’t worry too much about little pieces of wick or other bits in the wax, as you won’t see them in the candles when you’re done.
This is a great project to reuse your old candle wax.
3. Heat the wax over medium heat until fully melted. This won’t take long. Stir occasionally to melt evenly.
Citronella Oil
Break larger pieces of wax to melt faster.
Repelling Insects with Candles
4. When the wax is melted, it’s time to add the fragrance. Add 28 grams of citronella oil per kilogram of wax and increase the scent with 14 grams of other fragrances per kilogram. If you prefer only citronella, you can use 42 grams per kilogram.
Natural Insect Repellent Methods
5. Let the wax cool slightly and carefully pour it into your containers. I usually can gently move my wicks to stay centered as the wax cools, but if you have trouble, secure the wicks with a skewer or clothespin to keep them in line.
Materials Needed for Making Candles
6. Let your candles harden undisturbed for 48 hours. Before lighting, trim the wick to about 1/4 inch. Then, once lit, allow the candle to burn until a full, wide pool of wax forms before extinguishing it. This is how you achieve an even burn for the life of the candle.
Homemade Scented Candle
Helpful Tips for Making Citronella Candles
If you’re new to candle making (or making citronella candles), take a quick look at these helpful tips to ensure the success of your efforts:
Be careful not to disturb them too much and place them in a warm spot to cool. Cooling slowly and completely creates the best appearance for the candles.
If a dimple forms around the wick after cooling, heat some more wax and pour it into the hole.
Decorate your citronella candles with twine, string, and/or ribbon.
Keep them near your garden, deck, or patio so you can quickly light them when the pests start buzzing.
Reuse Old Supplies to Save Costs
Even though this project is relatively inexpensive, there are costs involved – and ways to save. Here are some helpful tips to assist you in saving a little when making citronella candles.
Candle-Making Instructions
Reuse Containers
You may have noticed from the pictures that these mosquito-repellent candles are in cans. I love this project because making citronella candles in cans is not only an excellent and natural way to keep mosquitoes away but also a great recycling project that repurposes your cans.
Additionally, it’s a simple and cheap project, quite similar to the soy wax glass candles I made long ago.
I love using old metal cans for this project. They don’t even need to be shiny. Rusty cans look great too! However, if you don’t have cans, you can also use jars.
My only caution when using jars is to avoid using very large ones. I recommend keeping them a pint size or smaller so the glass doesn’t get hot when the wax is warming.
Don’t have cans? Try making your citronella candles this year in clay pots.
Reuse Old Wax
The wax is the most expensive part of this project. If you want to reduce costs, scrape old wax from previously used containers and melt it again for your new candles.
Tip: If you want to try this, place your containers with old wax in the freezer overnight, then the next morning, take a butter knife and carefully pry out the wax from the edges of the container. It will probably come out in one big piece!
Frequently Asked Questions on How to Make Citronella Candles to Repel Insects at Home
1. Does citronella oil really work in repelling insects?
Yes, citronella oil is known as a natural insect repellent and can effectively keep insects away.
2. Can I use citronella candles outdoors?
Yes, decorative candles with citronella oil are suitable for outdoor use and can help reduce the presence of insects.
3. What materials do I need to make these candles?
To make decorative candles with citronella oil, you need candle wax, citronella oil, wicks, and candle containers.
4. Can these candles cause allergies?
Citronella oil or other ingredients may cause allergies in some individuals, so it’s best to do a small test before using them in large amounts.
5. How can I make citronella candles?
To make citronella candles, first, melt the wax, then add the citronella oil and pour it into the appropriate container, placing the wick in the center.
Final Note
In conclusion, making decorative candles with citronella oil is not only an effective way to repel insects at home but also a wonderful opportunity for creativity and beautifying your living space. By using simple, natural materials, you can easily create these candles and enjoy their bug-repelling properties. We hope with this tutorial, you will join the ranks of natural and organic methods enthusiasts and create these candles to make your living environment fragrant and calming.
Compiled by:SelMagz Home Secrets Section
