Citronella Candles

Hello again friends!

I have just made my first batch of homemade candles and I think I am hooked! These aren’t just any candles…these are candles with a purpose. Citronella Candles!

With each beautiful season we enjoy, there are some challenges that go along with them. There’s always Fall leaves to rake, ice and possible power outages in the Winter, dangerous storms and tornadoes in Spring and definitely heat, humidity and mosquitoes in the Summer.

I don’t seem to be a regular victim of mosquitoes but my husband, daughter and daughter-in-law always attracts them in the worst way.

I’ve wanted to make candles for quite some time, so making candles with citronella to (hopefully) keep the mosquitoes away seemed the perfect choice for my first attempt.

To make your own, here’s what you’ll need:

• Small glass jars
• Beeswax pellets (you can use blocked beeswax and grate it)
• Stick Ums
• Candle Wicks
• Citronella Essential Oil
• Cedarwood Essential Oil (optional)
• Orange Essential Oil (optional)
• Coffee stirrers (bamboo skewers would work well, too)
• Medium Saucepan
• Large Aluminum Can

Instructions:

1. Prepare your jars. Secure the wick to the bottom center of the jar with a small dab of Stick Ums (you could also use a hot glue gun or a few drops of melted wax).
2. Once wick is secure, roll excess wick onto a coffee stirrer until it is the height of your jar. Place the stirrer across the top of the jar. (see photo)
3. Fill the aluminum can with beeswax. The beeswax is very pliable and can be pressed down to get more into the can. I bought a one pound bag of pellets but was not able to get all of them in my can.
4. Fill the saucepan over half full with water. Sit the can inside the saucepan and turn on medium high heat. (see photo)
5. Bring water to a gentle boil and allow it to boil until all of the wax is melted.
6. Remove can from water. BE CAREFUL!!! Use canning tongs or pot holders to do this. Did I say BE CAREFUL?
7. Gently stir wax to make sure it is completely melted. It will look like thick baby oil. I used a wooden bamboo skewer to stir the wax. I wanted to use something that was disposable.
8. Add citronella oil and the other oils (if you choose to use them). Citronella is not a very pleasing scent to smell on it’s own so adding the additional oils is helpful. I wanted my candles to smell strong so I used 20 drops of citronella, 10 of cedarwood and 10 of orange. (You may need to adjust based on the amount of beeswax and what brand of essential oil you’re using.) Gently stir wax to mix scents well.
9. Using canning tongs or pot holders, CAREFULLY pour wax into each prepared jar. Use the coffee stirrer to keep the wick in place.
10. Let wax completely cool and harden in jar.
11. Trim wick before using.
12. Enjoy!

I hope you will give this a try! You can take the basic information I’ve given and add your favorite essential oils to customize it. This would also make a fun project to make now and give as gifts for Christmas. Whatever you do, you will enjoy the process and be very proud of yourself when you see the final product!

Thank you for stopping by Mulch and Paint to visit!

Until next time,

Please PIN this for later!