Citronella candles are as much of a summer party staple as hot dogs and hamburgers. You, the grillmaster, would never have a party without making those. So why not make your own citronella candles?
Citronella candles are a great way to fend off the bugs when you’re spending time outdoors. With a few simple ingredients and three easy steps, you can make your own right at home!
Ingredients:
Wax- I used EcoSoya CB-Advanced Soy Candle Wax
Candlewick(s)
Jar(s)- I used a cute mason jar, perfect for summer!
Wooden skewer, popsicle stick, etc. (something to stabilize the wick)
Directions:
Before you start melting the wax flakes, you’ll want to prep the jar and wick so that they’re ready to go when it’s time to pour the hot wax. This is where the wooden skewer (or whatever you have on hand that’s similar) comes into play. Using a tiny bit of hot wax, a spot of hot glue, or a glue dot, secure the metal end of the wick to the inside of the jar. Once you’ve centered and adhered the wick, wrap or fold the long portion over the skewer. This will help prevent it from falling into the hot wax as you pour and will keep it centered as the candle cools.
Melt the wax slowly over medium-high heat using a double boiler or similar setup. When deciding on how much wax to melt for your container, remember that the wax will shrink by half. My container held roughly 2 cups of dry wax flakes, so I melted down about 4 cups to fill the jar.
CAREFULLY pour the wax into the jar(s) that you have prepared. I used a small kitchen funnel when pouring to avoid spills and messes.
Next, you’ll need to add fragrance to the melted wax. Using a pipette, I added the citronella oil by drops. Keep in mind that this candle will be used to keep away the bugs when you’re outside so you want it to be strong (it won’t work if the bugs can’t smell it!). You can adjust the strength of the scent to suit your preference, but a general rule of thumb for essential oils and candle wax is 1 teaspoon per pound of wax.
After allowing the candle wax to cool and harden, trim the wick and you’ll be ready for your next outdoor gathering!
Let us know if you try out this recipe or any others from our blog!
Summer Citronella Candle Recipe
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Liability
Bulk Apothecary makes no claims of “expert status” and the company will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of the information found on this website.
As with all products, users should test a small amount prior to normal extended use. If pregnant or suffering from illness, consult a doctor before use.
One of the links to your ingredients doesn’t work, the one directing to the candle wicks, to be more precise. Page not found, is the result.
Hi Wil! Thanks for letting us know; it’s repaired.
Happy Bulking!
Link for wicks still is not working – same error message.
Can the wood wicks be used in this candle?
Yes, those can be used Laurie!