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If your favourite thing in the summer is warm nights outside then likely one of your least favourite is getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. Making citronella candles in cans is a great recycling project that is inexpensive and effective much like the Soy Beeswax Jar Candles I made a few months back.
I make lots of candles to create a bug-free barrier around the patio so I can enjoy my warm breezes and summer cocktails in peace. They aren’t bad for adding atmosphere either!
I’m not overly crazy of citronella so I added a few additional scents to the latest batch: pine and mandarin orange. While the most effective candles will still be primarily citronella, feel free to add a few other fragrances the bugs won’t like such as eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint, and oregano. I have an all-natural bug spray recipe with these scents too – they work really well.
Materials
- cans
- a double boiler (or here is a handy candle making kit)
- wax (soy wax, paraffin wax, old candles)
- pre-waxed wicks with tabs (150mm / 6”)
- citronella oil for candle making (use 1 oz per lb of wax)
- other scents for candle making like pine, mandarin orange, eucalyptus, peppermint)
- hot glue gun
Directions
1. Using the hot glue gun, affix the wicks to the bottom of the cans and press it firmly into the center. If you are using a larger can, add two or three wicks spaced apart around the centre.
2. Assemble your double boiler and add wax or old candles in small pieces. Don’t worry so much about bits of wick or other specks in the wax as you won’t see them in the candles when they are done. Heat over medium heat until the wax is completely melted.
3. When the wax is melted it’s time to add the fragrance. Add 1 oz of citronella oil per pound of wax and augment the scent with 0.5 oz of other scents per pound.
4. Let the wax cool slightly and carefully pour into containers. I can usually gently maneuver my wicks to stay in the centre as the wax cools but if you are having trouble, secure the wicks with a chopstick or clothespin to keep them in line. Careful not to disturb them too much and set them in a warm place to cool. Cooling slowly and completely will create the best looking candles.
5. If you get a depressed area around the wick when cooled, warm up some more wax and pour it into the void.
6. Allow your candle to cure for 48 hours undisturbed before burning. Then, when you fire it up, let the candle burn so that there is a full, wide pool of wax before you blow it out. It is said that candles have a memory, so it’s best to let the first burn set the tone for all the rest.
7. Decorate your candles by wrapping them in burlap, twine and/or yarn. Store near them near the garden, deck or patio so you can quickly light up when the pests start buzzing around.
Thanks for visiting Weekend Project #40. For more great garden-related projects check out the tab at the top of this page.
Thanks for sharing! Sounds like an inexpensive way to be bug free, especially using the leftover tin cans and candles. I’m pinning this for future use!
Thanks for sharing. Will definitey try those cause I really hate the toxic ones you can buy at stores. Have a great week – maks :-)
What a great idea, and just in time for our summer wedding! Visiting from the Tip Junkie Party
I found you on Delightful Order’s link up party, I love this idea! I have so many mosquitos where I live and we are always eaten alive! I will have to try making these!
I love this idea! I hope you will link this up to the CSI Project. The challenge is Summer outdoor decorating and parties. These would be perfect. You just might win or be featured!
Come on over! http://www.thecsiproject.com
The challenge ends Friday at noon.
great idea! I love how you put them in the carrier too! they looked cute and organized.
Thanks, Amber! It’s out of convenience so I can pull them all out at the same time when I quickly want to battle the bugs.
Thanks, Maks!
That’s a fabulous tutorial. Citronella candles are an absolute must where I live as we’re surrounded by wetlands. I always buy those green buckets. Had no idea they could be made so easily at home. At worst, I could have them going when I bbq! Thanks for stopping by. Jane
Thank you for the idea.
What a great idea! I love the smell of citronella candles!
Thank you so much for sharing @ {nifty thrifty sunday}!
You will be featured in about 30 minutes! ;)
xo! Vanessa
Thanks for the feature, Vanessa!
I love this! I’m thinking about gift ideas. Where did you find the carrier?
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m going to make these this weekend with my old candles. No more buying these anymore! :)
Hi! Found your site through oneprettything. This is an excellent idea, and i think I will definitely make this a summer project. I read, in Mother Earth News magazine, there are quite a few natural mosquito repellants I’ve never really known about like rose scented monarda, lime basil, thyme, and catnip! Thanks for the great idea.
Found you on Tipjunkie – these are *wonderful*! What a great idea, thank you for sharing it!
Thanks, Gina!
Thanks for an interesting blog post. Sounds like this technique has been useful in the past! keep the great posts coming!!
Thanks for sharing! You can also use melted candle wax to affix the wicks to the bottom of the cans instead of the glue gun.
Thanks Tessye for the suggestion! Would the wax not melt when you pour the hot wax into the can and dislodge the wick though?
Is it easy to find citronella oil?
Martine, yes it is. I have included links in the post to buy it on Amazon.
please help ?? my husband kicked over the container with melted hot wax from a citronella candle on my carpet. we are struggling to get it out! whatcan i do??
How long will each candle burn for?
Thanks!
Crissy, I can’t say for sure but I would guess 8-12 hours.
Would tea tree oil work? Great post and idea, thank you!
Hi Sharlyn, I’m not sure. Citronella is known for it’s mosquito repelling properties. I haven’t heard the same about tea tree.
These are great! Where can you get those square tin planters? Great idea!
Is it possible to use Mason Jars as the containers? Or old candle jars made of glass? Thx! Luv the info!
Hi Crystal, yes, mason jars are heat safe and they work perfectly! I have written lots of posts for making candles in jars. Here is a good one that had links to some of the other projects and a cute crafty project to decorate them for the holidays: http://gardentherapy.ca/cute-for-christmas-beeswax-poinsettia-candles
If you spill wax on a carpet, use a brown paper bag and a warm iron. Cover the wax with the bag and iron changing bags until wax is absorb. I did it and it works!
Wondering if I could use beeswax for the base of the candle?????
Sandy, absolutely! There are 2 reasons why I don’t though. 1. I don’t have access to inexpensive beeswax and it is very pricey to but the amount you need to fill the cans, and 2. beeswax has such a beautiful honey smell that it is a shame to add all that citronella to it! I would save the beeswax for unscented candle that you use indoors…it will make the whole house smell like warm honey! More on how to make beeswax candles here: http://gardentherapy.ca/seashell-beeswax-tealights/
I love making my own soy wax candles, and I pile them outside in summer to get rid of bugs
LOVE your site, bookmarking pages to return to like crazy.
Does it matter if the used candles are scented?
Hi Aimee, I’m not sure that it matters, unless the scent is so strong that it would either overpower the citronella or be something that actually attracts mosquitoes.