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 utterly pure substances, let’s enterprise into the great world of candle making and defend our out of doors house the pure approach with DIY citronella candles! These pesky mosquitoes are not 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 a approach you may permit a gateway for bugs to hitch your family. If mosquitos are an issue in your neck of the woods, you’ll need to take into account making these DIY citronella candles. Plus, I’ll provide you with just a few extra tips about how you can keep bug free this summer time!
Why Make DIY Citronella Candles?
Making your individual DIY citronella candles is a good suggestion for just a few causes. One, it’s inventive and enjoyable. Received’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 positive! The most important cause is they supply safety in opposition to mosquitos. Whereas they aren’t the simplest bug repellent you may use, they’re value utilizing and supply no less than one layer of safety. I wish to put on THESE non-toxic bands in addition to preserve my home made bug spray shut. Whereas training all three habits, you need to have the ability to have an fulfilling time open air.
A few years in the past I wrote a publish 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 very poisonous. Through the years I’ve made a number of new batches of my bug repellent and have already put it to good use however I’ve all the time 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 will get with these dang mosquitos!
You may additionally like my citronella bug repellent cubes as properly! 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 problem of Tropical Medication & Worldwide Well being, an evaluation of 11 research on the capabilities of citronella oil discovered that the important oil possible offered 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 really 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 filth 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 might be extraordinarily useful for these of you affected by allergic reactions and bronchial asthma! If you’re 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, consult with my publish on how you can 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 scorching 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 approach full with water, place a glass pyrex bowl within the water.
- Pour beeswax and coconut oil in a glass bowl and permit to completely 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 scorching 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 photos.
- Regular the wicks and let the wax cool, ideally in a heat (170F) oven. (see why under)
- Trim your wicks. (1/2 inch from the wax)
- Permit to set for 48 hours with a purpose to treatment earlier than lighting.
Notes
- Purchase low cost citronella important oil. There isn’t a have to go together with a top quality model.
- We aren’t making use of it to our pores and skin and we’re utilizing loads. I used THIS oil.
- When you’ve got a bunch of outdated candles mendacity round and even candles that you just did not burn utterly, you may soften the wax and use them on this recipe. Beeswax is after all a more healthy possibility however I all the time like to repurpose gadgets in my dwelling that I not use! Skip the coconut oil if you’re utilizing already made candles.
- In the event you desire to skip the beeswax, you should use soy wax as an alternative. Skip the coconut oil should you do.
Candle Making Suggestions 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 straightforward removing.
- When you’ve poured the wax into your candle containers, permit your candles to chill within the oven at 170 levels Fahrenheit along with your oven door barely ajar. This may stop cracking as properly. You should definitely carry on cookie sheet!!
- Cleansing up after beeswax might be an inconceivable job. I recommend you both use a disposable container to soften your coconut oil and beeswax in, or you may put your glass bowl within the oven, permit the remaining beeswax to utterly soften, then wipe it out with a paper towel. It’s the one approach I’ve discovered to scrub up.
- When first lighting your candles, all the time 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 gotten sufficient time to let it burn lengthy sufficient for the wax to soften evenly on the highest of the candle. That is necessary with any candle and helps “practice” your candle to not tunnel. (see under for extra tips about avoiding tunneling)
- Don’t get in a rush when melting your beeswax. In the event 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 remains to be on the wax. If the wax is just too scorching, the oil will dissipate and in addition be ineffective.
Associated Put up: Important Oil Spider Spray
Additional Useful Tricks to Maintain Mosquitos Away:
- As talked about above, THESE bands are nice. They’re low cost, snug and straightforward to cross out at events.
- Plant lemon balm and/or citronella round your patio or had been you want to hang around. These crops add an additional layer of safety in opposition to annoying bugs. Citronella is a “tender perennial” so should you don’t have a tough winter, it probably 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 properly in opposition to mosquitos and can be utilized in a diffuser open air.
- Burn citronella incense whereas exterior.
- Test 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
Home made beeswax candles, whereas simple to make, are exhausting to get proper. As you may 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 tips to maintain your candles from tunneling and handle it intimately in my how you can make beeswax candles publish. I’ll inform you right here that it’s crucial that you just “practice” your candles the primary time you gentle them. This implies, you allow them to burn lengthy sufficient that the wax melts all the way in which to the outer edges of the container. Beeswax candles have a tendency to wish some assist with this so I might recommend you utilize foil to assist. See image under.
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 yr, we’d like all the assistance we will get exterior!
You may additionally get pleasure from my tutorial for making soy candles.
Making your individual home made citronella candles is an effective way to salvage these summer time nights spent exterior. They’re simple to make and comparatively reasonably priced. I believe THESE jars are an ideal dimension to make fairly just a few candles to maintain readily available to carry as hostess presents to barbecues!
xx, Jenni
