HOW TO DIY CITRONELLA CANDLE
Mosquitos are in full swing in the North-East. I can't even go outside to water my garden without being bitten by mosquitos. I bought a couple of citronella candles and they worked like a charm. The downside is they get a bit pricey, so I decided to DIY citronella candle and oh boy, I wasn't disappointed.
Not only they come out so much cheaper than store-bought ones, but also you can customize them to your liking and have tons of fun making them.
To make it yourself you don't need to have any special skills, it's super simple! The only tricky part was to set the wicks straight so it stays this way and doesn't go at an angle but keep reading and I'll tell you what solution I came up with.
I love the fact that you can make those candles in so many different jars and glasses. It makes it super fun! Look at my repurposed margarita glass that I found at Goodwill for $0.50😅 I like the fact that I can grab it by the handle and not worry about getting burned by hot glass.
And oh how cheap it was, compared to the one you buy at the store! I purchase this 5Lb bag of soy wax, these candle wicks in bulk, and citronella oil. If I estimate the cost of one large candle it would be around $2. Such a huge save!
Cost: $2-3
Time spent: 15 mins making + 1 hour curing time
Level: beginner
Watch the video online HERE
MATERIALS:
- soy wax
- citronella oil
- old candle jar or something else. I think it would look cute in teacups or mugs as well.
- clear sticker paper (optional)
- double boiler
STEP 1.
Put dry wax into your jar. Make sure you add a bit extra if you want the candle to be covered till the top.
STEP 2.
Add wax to the bowl and put on a pan with boiling water. Caution! It will get boiling hot.
STEP 3.
Why wax is melting, place wicks to the bowl. Here is a tricky part. I first tried to make it with this margarita glass and the bottom wasn't even, so wicks were constantly slipping off and falling down. I tried to glue it but it didn't work (I didn't try a hot glue gun though, maybe that's an option).
What seemed to work for me was to wrap the long part of the wick around skewers that I put on top. It wasn't perfect but did work.
STEP 4.
When the wax is completely melted and became liquid, pour it into your candle. Add citronella oil ( I used about 20 drops) and leave it for an hour. I feel this is one of those situations when the more the merrier. I don't think you can go wrong with the number of essential oil drops.
PIN IT MAKE IT LATER>>>>>>
It was such an easy, quick project that I think I'm addicted now 😄
My favorite candle from this batch is the one with this adorable label. I used a jar from Costco's tiramisu (that my daughter absolutely loves, lol I love the jars they come in). The label I made in photoshop and printed on clear sticker paper. If you'd like to get this label, you can find it in my resource library. Sign up for my newsletter to get access to the library with a lot of fun printables and woodworking plans!
I want to try different oil blends and add maybe dry flowers! The possibilities are endless!
I also think it makes one great DIY gift on the budget! Decorated beautifully and I'm sure your friends would be very delighted to receive something like this. You can also customize it with a handmade label and make a beautiful sign, print it out, and make it personal.
Especially, this one is great for people with patios and outdoor space when there are so many mosquitos outside in the summer! We already tried our DIY citronella candle for mosquitos and they work like a charm!
I'm pretty sure you can expect more candles from me in the future😄
But for now, enjoy this quick solution to avoid mosquitos.
IF YOU LIKE THIS PROJECT, YOU MIGHT LIKE
How to make this gorgeous charcuterie board for your next party!
How to build a picnic sandbox table for your kids with free plans
How to DIY Grimm's building blocks and paint wood so your kids can lick it safely.
If you want to see more projects like this, visit my YouTube Channel and Instagram @ifonlyapril.I try to post in stories my progress with all the projects.
xoxo,
April
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