If you are a bug magnet like I am , you will appreciate this ( dare I say ) sprightliness - changing project ! Make these DIY citronella candles and experience for yourself how well an good mosquito - repellant taper can act upon ! I particularly appreciate that these candles are made with all - natural materials , with no toxic harmful ingredient admit .
If you are anything like me , the summer months are the perfect time of year to pass time alfresco . In typically cool climate like where I live , the long , tender summertime days are sodding for gardening and soaking up the Dominicus outside . There ’s just one midget problem : mosquitoes .
I do n’t know what it is , but mosquito seem to absolutely love me ( that love isnotreturned ! ) . Mosquitoes leave me withlarge , itchy weltsas they feast in the forenoon and eventide hours . Ugh !
Even made out of recycled materials, these citronella candles can look really cute.
Thankfully , after years of experiment and piles of trial and error , I have grow a few method for keeping these plague at bay naturally . One of my favourite methods are these DIY citronella candles .
This post will cover …
Do Citronella Candles Really Work?
I in the first place published this post in 2016 , and since then , there ’s been a band of discussion ring the topic of citronella taper and their strength for repelling mosquitoes .
Lately , several articles have been published citing a study claiming citronella wax light do n’t work . However , that’snotwhat the study actually shows .
The studies say if you are trying to protect yourself from Zika , Malaria , or other mosquito - borne illnesses , you should not rely upon a citronella candle .
I completely harmonize with this ! If you are exit somewhere where those disease are heavily present , or if you are at high risk , I would not rely on citronella to keep you safe .
That being pronounce , if you are out in your garden , or on your patio hold a glass of wine-coloured , and you put a few of these candles around to protect your quad , they can be effective .
Not because mosquitoes are disgusted by the smell , but rather because it can aid maskyourscent . As you burn the candles , it consistently unloose the oil into the air travel , which keeps your scent enshroud .
Thestudies have shownthatcitronella candles wreak about 40 % of the prison term . This means that 60 % of the time , you may terminate up with bite .
I ’d still much rather use anall - natural bug sprayin compounding with citronella cd to melt off the chances of getting bitten than dose myself in DEET and chemicals daily just to prevent bites .
Is it 100 % effective ? No . But , when used in combination , I think it can be an effective ally in the engagement against mosquito .
That ’s why I build up myself with a combination of citronella candles , mymosquito - repelling container garden , and myDIY bug spraythat uses natural essential oil . This combination is an effective one - two punch that keeps those vexing mosquitoes far , far away without exposing myself ( and my garden ! ) to any harmful chemical substance .
Other Scents to Use in Citronella Candles
Truth be told , I ’m in person notoverlycrazy about the olfactory property of citronella , but I ’ll happily deal with it to ward off do a constant ridiculous - looking dance of smacking myself to kill the flying pests .
While the most efficient standard candle will still be in the main citronella , feel free to total a few other fragrances . To make the candles smell better to me ( but still effective ) , I have played with adding a couple of extra scents to my latest spate of citronella candles , such as :
You may have to experiment a second and see which compounding you like best , but that ’s part of the fun of making DIY candles .
How to Make Citronella Candles
With a few simple , natural ingredients and just a little bit of clip , you will have your own mosquito - repellent candles to use all around your railyard !
Materials
Make It!
1 . tote up the wick to the centre of your can or container . The expert way I have found to use this is with a hot glue gun . Make trusted to weight-lift the wick down firmly(and cautiously as the hot glue can burn ) .
If you are using a larger container , you may add two or three wicks space aside around the center .
2 . Assemble your two-fold boiler and add wax or old cd in small slice . Don’t worry so much about number of wick or other pinpoint in the wax , as you wo n’t see them in the wax light when they are done .
3 . Heat thewax over medium heatuntil it is completely melted . This wo n’t take too long . put forward every once in a while to help oneself it melt evenly .
4 . When the wax is melt , it ’s prison term to add the scent . Add 1 oz of citronella oil per pound of waxand augment the scent with 0.5 oz of other scent per dog pound . If you favour just citronella , you may use 1.5 oz per pound .
5 . allow the wax coolheaded slightly and cautiously pour into containers . I can usually gently maneuver my wicks to stay in the center as the wax cools , but if you are take trouble , procure the wicks with a chopstick or clothespin to keep them in air .
6.Allow your candle to cure for 48 hours undisturbed before burning . bring down the wick to about 1/4 inch before you light it . Then , once it ’s light , get the standard candle incinerate so that there is a full , wide pond of wax before you bobble it out . This is how you get an even burn for the life of the candle .
Citronella Candle-Making: Helpful Tips
If you are new to establish taper ( or making citronella candles ) , take a speedy look at these helpful tips to see success with your efforts :
Re-Use Old Supplies to Save Money
Even though this project is fairly cheap , there are price involved — and ways to save a little money . Here are some helpful bakshish to help you save a little when give your citronella candles .
Reuse Containers
You may remark from the pictures that these mosquito - repellent cd are in cans . I have intercourse this project because make citronella taper in tooshie is not only a big , natural way to keep mosquitoes at bay , but it ’s also agreat recycling project that reprocess your cans .
Plus , it ’s a simple and inexpensive task , much like thesoy beeswax jar candlesI made not too long ago .
I love using old metal cans for this project . They do n’t even have to be shiny . rust-brown ace look amazing!However , if you do n’t have any cans , you may also use glass jars .
My only caution when using spyglass is toavoid using very large jars . I commend keeping them to pint - sizing or little so that the glass does n’t break when the red-hot wax heat up the jounce .
Do n’t have any cans available ? Try make yourcitronella candles in terracotta potsthis summer .
Reuse Old Wax
The cost of wax is the most costly part of this project . If you need to ignore down toll , scrape older wax out of previously used containers and melt it back down for your young candles .
Tip : If you need to try this , freeze your containers with previous wax overnight , then the next break of the day , take a butter knife and cautiously peel the wax away from the edges of the container . You ’ll likely have chunks come out at a time !
FAQ About Making Homemade Citronella Candles
I usecitronella essential oil . you could get it fair inexpensively at candle store or online . you could also use fragrance oils , which run to be cheaper and are less “ sportsmanlike , ” but you will still get the caper done .
I add together 1 oz of citronella oil per Ezra Pound of wax , and then tot in 0.5 oz of other fragrance of my pick . If you ’re extend to use just citronella oil color as your perfume , you could do 1.5 oz of it .
I just utilise a hot glue hitman to keep my wick secure to the bottom of the container . If you do not have a hot glue grease-gun , you could usewick stickersas well .
I hope that this guidebook helps you to make your own citronella candles easily !
More Ways to Stop Mosquitoes
DIY Citronella Candles
Equipment
Supplies
Instructions
Share this post:
