Citronella Lavender Candle

Citronella Lavender Candle

Now that my backyard renovation is complete, it’s finally time to relax and enjoy it. Since I’ve been working from home, I’ve enjoyed sitting on the patio at the end of my workday with a glass of wine to unwind. Unfortunately, summer evenings bring summer bug bites. Being eaten by mosquitoes is not what I call relaxing. On investigating no toxic ways to deter mosquitoes, I came across the miracle essential oil, citronella. Yes, I know I might be the last person on earth to discover this but in case you’re like me, here’s some background information.

What is Citronella?

Citronella is an essential oil made from various species of lemongrass (genus Cymbopogon) and has been used for centuries as a natural insect repellent. Today, citronella is frequently found in perfumes and cosmetic products and is well known for its use in outdoor candles, sprays, and other outdoor essentials. Citronella has a citrus aroma which masks the scents that are attractive to insects. Citronella repels airborne bugs, primarily mosquitoes but also flies, moths, and gnats. It repels mosquitoes by masking human odors so that mosquitoes don’t detect the presence of a potential host.

Do citronella candles really work?

There has been quite a bit of discussion on whether citronella is effective at repelling mosquitos or not. The science suggests that though citronella repels mosquitos to some degree, the concentration typically found in candles is less effective than repellents with DEET. DEET is the active chemical ingredient found in many repellent products typically applied to skin or clothing.

If you’re looking to avoid any chemical ingredients that could potentially be toxic, citronella is a good alternative. Though less effective, citronella works by consistently releasing the oil into the air, which keeps your scent hidden from mosquitoes.

DIY Citronella Lavender Candles

Making citronella candles is a simple DIY that took me less than an hour from start to finish. The ingredients were all affordable or easily sourced from within your home. Making your own citronella candles at home not only allows you to opportunity to avoid the potentially harmful chemicals frequently found in commercial insect repellents but adds to the overall ambiance of your patio.

Ingredients:

  • Container – I used a glass container
  • Large pot of boiling water
  • Wax (soy wax, paraffin wax, old candles)
  • Pre-waxed wicks (or old candles wicks)
  • Citronella oil
  • Lavender oil
  • Hot glue gun

Step 1: Melt wax

Fill a large pot with enough water to submerge the candle jars halfway. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn the fire down low and carefully place your candle jars in the pot. Leave in water until the wax is completely melted.

Using a pair of tweezers or tongs, remove the old wicks from the melted candle jars. If wicks are long enough, they can be reused. I had two really tall candles with long enough wicks I was able to reuse.

Step 2: Prepare candle jar

Using a hot glue gun, add adhesive and place it at the bottom of your new jar. Secure wick in place by taping the top of wicks to a metal straw or pencil.

Step 3: Pour wax

When the new candle jar is ready and the wax is melted, use an oven mitten to remove melted candle jars from pot and pour melted wax into the newly prepared jar. Add at least 15-20 drops of citronella and lavender oils.

Let wax cool and harden for 24 hours before use. Trim wick before use.

Making these citronella candles were easy and cost me little to nothing. It’s a great natural alternative that smells great and sets a very relaxing mood for my patio. Try them out and lemme know how they came out.