DIY Citronella Candles with Beeswax to Maintain Mosquitos Away!
It’s formally bug season and I’m scrambling to search out pure methods to repel all of the bugs thriving from the wetness Might left behind. The summer time months are forward of us and pure citronella oil is an absolute should. Utilizing fully pure elements, let’s enterprise into the great world of candle making and shield our out of doors house the pure means with DIY citronella candles! These pesky mosquitoes aren’t any match for these highly effective insect repellent candles!
We stay in Oklahoma and our state is notorious for allergic reactions and bugs. There are screens on each window as a result of there isn’t any means you may permit a gateway for bugs to affix your family. If mosquitos are an issue in your neck of the woods, you’ll wish to take into account making these DIY citronella candles. Plus, I’ll offer you just a few extra tips about the best way to keep bug free this summer time!
Why Make DIY Citronella Candles?
Making your personal DIY citronella candles is a good suggestion for just a few causes. One, it’s inventive and enjoyable. Gained’t you get a way of delight burning home made candles? Additionally, they create ambiance. Candle gentle on the patio, a glass of wine, good music-it’s a vibe that’s for certain! The most important purpose is they supply safety in opposition to mosquitos. Whereas they aren’t the best bug repellent you may use, they’re price utilizing and supply not less than one layer of safety. I wish to put on THESE non-toxic bands in addition to hold my home made bug spray shut. Whereas practising all three habits, you need to have the ability to have an pleasant time outdoor.
A few years in the past I wrote a put up on a DIY Bug Repellent recipe and in addition a Bug Chunk Balm. I talked concerning the risks of typical bug sprays and confused that squirting copious quantities of bug repellent again and again is extremely poisonous. Over time I’ve made a number of new batches of my bug repellent and have already put it to good use however I’ve at all times needed to make my very own citronella candles as a result of I LOVE candles and who doesn’t want as a lot safety as they’ll get with these dang mosquitos!
You may additionally like my citronella bug repellent cubes as effectively! These candle wax melts are easy to make and require no wick!
First, just a few issues about Citronella Important Oil…
Citronella oil is a well-liked and efficient pure mosquito repellent. It’s additionally a wonderful soother for bug bites! It’s a potent anti fungal in addition to antibacterial and antiseptic.
In a 2011 subject of Tropical Medicine & International Health, an evaluation of 11 research on the capabilities of citronella oil discovered that the important oil possible supplied as much as three hours of safety in opposition to mosquitoes.
Citronella oil repels mosquitos by blocking the scent of people that draws them.
Second, just a few issues about beeswax candles…..
Do you know that beeswax truly purifies the air? Beeswax releases NEGATIVE IONS into the air very similar to diffusing important oils does. Air pollution like smoke, dander, pollen, mud and grime carry a POSITIVE cost. The unfavorable beeswax ions connect to the constructive pollution and principally wrestle them to the bottom to the place they’re inactive!
Burning beeswax candles could be extraordinarily helpful for these of you affected by allergic reactions and bronchial asthma! In case you are burning pure beeswax candles, it solely takes a pair hours of burning to assist clear the air!
For extra detailed step-by-step (with image) directions, confer with my put up on the best way to make beeswax candles.
What You’ll Want for DIY Citronella Candles:
Supplies
- 1/2 cup Unrefined Coconut Oil
- 1 lb. Beeswax
- 1 ounce (600 drops) Citronella Important Oil
Instruments
- Glass containers or jars on your candles.
- Lead Free Wicks
- garments pins
- A medium sized pot
- A glass pyrex bowl with spout
- A cookie sheet
Directions
- Put together the empty containers by utilizing a sizzling glue gun to attach the candle wick within the backside of the jar or glass candle holder and steadying it with a garments pin.
- Place your ready glass candle holders within the oven at 170 levels.
- Create a double boiler by filling a medium sized pot 1/2 means full with water, place a glass pyrex bowl within the water.
- Pour beeswax and coconut oil in a glass bowl and permit to totally soften. Maintain your range high on low-medium warmth.
- Take away glass bowl from warmth and add 80-100 drops of Citronella to the wax.
- Pour sizzling wax into glass containers. I used to be capable of make 5 candles from 1 lb. of wax. You possibly can see the sizes from my footage.
- Regular the wicks and let the wax cool, ideally in a heat (170F) oven. (see why beneath)
- Trim your wicks. (1/2 inch from the wax)
- Permit to set for 48 hours with a purpose to remedy earlier than lighting.
Notes
- Purchase low-cost citronella important oil. There isn’t any have to go together with a high quality model.
- We aren’t making use of it to our pores and skin and we’re utilizing rather a lot. I used THIS oil.
- When you’ve got a bunch of outdated candles mendacity round and even candles that you simply did not burn fully, you possibly can soften the wax and use them on this recipe. Beeswax is in fact a more healthy choice however I at all times like to repurpose gadgets in my dwelling that I now not use! Skip the coconut oil if you’re utilizing already made candles.
- When you favor to skip the beeswax, you need to use soy wax as an alternative. Skip the coconut oil in the event you do.
Candle Making Ideas and Tips:
- Warmth your glass candle containers within the oven on low (170 levels Fahrenheit) whereas your beeswax melts on the range high. This may permit little or no “shock” to the beeswax whereas it’s being poured into the containers which can stop cracking. I put mine on a cookie sheet for simple removing.
- When you’ve poured the wax into your candle containers, permit your candles to chill within the oven at 170 levels Fahrenheit together with your oven door barely ajar. This may stop cracking as effectively. You’ll want to carry on cookie sheet!!
- Cleansing up after beeswax could be an not possible activity. I recommend you both use a disposable container to soften your coconut oil and beeswax in, or you possibly can put your glass bowl within the oven, permit the remaining beeswax to fully soften, then wipe it out with a paper towel. It’s the one means I’ve discovered to wash up.
- When first lighting your candles, at all times level the flame on the backside of the wick in order that your candle will burn appropriately.
- The primary time you burn your candle, be certain you’ve got sufficient time to let it burn lengthy sufficient for the wax to soften evenly on the highest of the candle. That is essential with any candle and helps “prepare” your candle to not tunnel. (see beneath for extra tips about avoiding tunneling)
- Don’t get in a rush when melting your beeswax. When you soften your wax in too excessive a temp, you may render the beeswax ineffective. Maintain the range high on low-medium warmth.
- Don’t add your important oils whereas the warmth continues to be on the wax. If the wax is simply too sizzling, the oil will deplete and in addition be ineffective.
Associated Submit: Important Oil Spider Spray
Additional Useful Tricks to Maintain Mosquitos Away:
- As talked about above, THESE bands are nice. They’re low-cost, comfy and straightforward to go out at events.
- Plant lemon balm and/or citronella round your patio or have been you want to hang around. These vegetation add an additional layer of safety in opposition to annoying bugs. Citronella is a “tender perennial” so in the event you don’t have a tough winter, it almost certainly will come again every spring. Lemon Balm can also be a perennial and a bit extra hardy.
- Drop just a few additional drops of important oil on the floor of your candles earlier than lighting.
- Lemon Eucalyptus oil is one other pure oil that works effectively in opposition to mosquitos and can be utilized in a diffuser outdoor.
- Burn citronella incense whereas outdoors.
- Examine round your patio house for any standing/stagnant water. You’d be shocked how eliminating water round your sitting space could make an enormous distinction.
Hassle Taking pictures Candle Tunneling
Do-it-yourself beeswax candles, whereas straightforward to make, are arduous to get proper. As you possibly can see from my pics, my candles are tunneling (when the wax solely burns down the center of the candle).
I’ve discovered just a few methods to maintain your candles from tunneling and deal with it intimately in my the best way to make beeswax candles put up. I’ll let you know right here that it’s crucial that you simply “prepare” your candles the primary time you gentle them. This implies, you allow them to burn lengthy sufficient that the wax melts all the best way to the outer edges of the container. Beeswax candles have a tendency to want some assist with this so I’d recommend you utilize foil to assist. See image beneath.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to make use of 2 wicks in a single container. I’m discovering that solely votives work with 1 wick. Something bigger wants 2 if not 3 wicks.
Have enjoyable with this enjoyable home made citronella candle recipe! This 12 months, we want all the assistance we will get outdoors!
You may additionally get pleasure from my tutorial for making soy candles.
Making your personal home made citronella candles is an effective way to salvage these summer time nights spent outdoors. They’re straightforward to make and comparatively reasonably priced. I feel THESE jars are an amazing measurement to make fairly just a few candles to maintain readily available to deliver as hostess items to barbecues!
xx, Jenni
