DIY Citronella Candles with Beeswax to Maintain Mosquitos Away!

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It’s formally bug season and I’m scrambling to seek 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 outside area the pure method with DIY citronella candles! These pesky mosquitoes aren’t any match for these highly effective insect repellent candles!

We reside in Oklahoma and our state is notorious for allergy symptoms and bugs. There are screens on each window as a result of there isn’t a method you possibly can enable a gateway for bugs to affix your family. If mosquitos are an issue in your neck of the woods, you’ll wish to think about making these DIY citronella candles. Plus, I’ll provide you with a number of extra recommendations on the way to keep bug free this summer time!

Why Make DIY Citronella Candles?

Making your individual DIY citronella candles is a good suggestion for a number of causes. One, it’s inventive and enjoyable. Received’t you get a way of satisfaction burning selfmade candles? Additionally, they create ambiance. Candle mild on the patio, a glass of wine, good music-it’s a vibe that’s for positive! The most important purpose is they supply safety towards mosquitos. Whereas they aren’t the simplest bug repellent you possibly can use, they’re value utilizing and supply a minimum of one layer of safety. I prefer to put on THESE non-toxic bands in addition to hold my selfmade bug spray shut. Whereas practising all three habits, it’s best to have the ability to have an pleasing time open air. 

A few years in the past I wrote a put up on a DIY Bug Repellent recipe and likewise a Bug Chew Balm.  I talked concerning the risks of standard bug sprays and confused that squirting copious quantities of bug repellent time and again is very 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 wished 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, a number of issues about Citronella Important Oil…

Citronella oil is a well-liked and efficient pure mosquito repellent.  It’s additionally a superb 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 doubtless supplied as much as three hours of safety towards mosquitoes.

Citronella oil repels mosquitos by blocking the scent of people that pulls them.

Second, a number of 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 detrimental beeswax ions connect to the optimistic pollution and principally wrestle them to the bottom to the place they’re inactive!  

Burning beeswax candles may be extraordinarily useful for these of you affected by allergy symptoms 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, discuss with my put up on the 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

1. Put together the empty containers through the use of 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. 
2. Place your ready glass candle holders within the oven at 170 levels. 
3. Create a double boiler by filling a medium sized pot 1/2 method full with water, place a glass pyrex bowl within the water.
4. Pour beeswax and coconut oil in a glass bowl and permit to totally soften.  Maintain your range prime on low-medium warmth.
5. Take away glass bowl from warmth and add 80-100 drops of Citronella to the wax.   
6. Pour scorching wax into glass containers. I used to be in a position to make 5 candles from 1 lb. of wax. You possibly can see the sizes from my footage. 
7. Regular the wicks and let the wax cool, ideally in a heat (170F) oven. (see why under)
8. Trim your wicks. (1/2 inch from the wax)
9. Permit to set for 48 hours in an effort to remedy earlier than lighting.

Notes

• Purchase low-cost citronella important oil. There isn’t a 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 quite a bit. I used THIS oil.
• In case you have a bunch of outdated candles mendacity round and even candles that you just did not burn utterly, you possibly can soften the wax and use them on this recipe. Beeswax is in fact a more healthy possibility however I at all times like to repurpose gadgets in my dwelling that I not use! Skip the coconut oil if you’re utilizing already made candles. 
• ​If you happen to want to skip the beeswax, you should utilize soy wax as an alternative. Skip the coconut oil for those who do. 

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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 prime.  This can enable little or no “shock” to the beeswax whereas it’s being poured into the containers which is able to forestall cracking.  I put mine on a cookie sheet for simple removing.
• When you’ve poured the wax into your candle containers, enable your candles to chill within the oven at 170 levels Fahrenheit together with your oven door barely ajar.  This can forestall cracking as effectively.  Make sure to carry on cookie sheet!!
• Cleansing up after beeswax may be an unimaginable process. I counsel 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, enable the remaining beeswax to utterly soften, then wipe it out with a paper towel. It’s the one method I’ve discovered to scrub 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 may have sufficient time to let it burn lengthy sufficient for the wax to soften evenly on the highest of the candle. That is vital with any candle and helps “prepare” your candle to not tunnel. (see under for extra recommendations on avoiding tunneling)
• Don’t get in a rush when melting your beeswax.  If you happen to soften your wax in too excessive a temp, you possibly can render the beeswax ineffective.  Maintain the range prime on low-medium warmth.
• Don’t add your important oils whereas the warmth continues to be on the wax.  If the wax is just too scorching, the oil will deplete and likewise be ineffective.

Associated Submit: Important Oil Spider Spray



Further Useful Tricks to Maintain Mosquitos Away:

• As talked about above, THESE bands are nice. They’re low-cost, snug and simple to go out at events. 
• Plant lemon balm and/or citronella round your patio or had been you want to hang around. These vegetation add an additional layer of safety towards annoying bugs. Citronella is a “tender perennial” so for those who don’t have a tough winter, it most definitely will come again every spring. Lemon Balm can be a perennial and a bit extra hardy. 
• Drop a number of further drops of important oil on the floor of your candles earlier than lighting.
• Lemon Eucalyptus oil is one other pure oil that works effectively towards mosquitos and can be utilized in a diffuser open air.
• Burn citronella incense whereas outdoors.
• Test round your patio area for any standing/stagnant water. You’d be stunned 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 exhausting 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 a number of methods to maintain your candles from tunneling and deal with it intimately in my the way to make beeswax candles put up. I’ll let you know right here that it’s crucial that you just “prepare” your candles the primary time you mild 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 wish some assist with this so I might counsel you employ 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 selfmade citronella candle recipe! This 12 months, we’d like all the assistance we are able to get outdoors!

You may additionally take pleasure in my tutorial for making soy candles.

Making your individual selfmade citronella candles is an effective way to salvage these summer time nights spent outdoors. They’re straightforward to make and comparatively inexpensive. I feel THESE jars are an important measurement to make fairly a number of candles to maintain readily available to carry as hostess items to barbecues! 

xx, Jenni

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