How to make citronella candles
The arrival of monsoon showers calls for a candle that perfectly matches the vibe of the season- and what better essential oil than citronella essential oil to make that DIY candle! If you’re not a rain person, but like the idea of spending that time in the comfort of your homes, this is the exact candle blend you might want to try out. Equal parts citrusy and grassy, these DIY citronella candles will make you feel as if you’re walking bare feet in freshly cut grass with the soft pitter patter of the rain as the bgm. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? Well, to us too! So, we would like to introduce Aromachology’s full guide on how to make citronella candles.
How to Make Citronella Candles at Home: A Complete DIY Guide
The pleasant scent of Citronella essential oil is not the only reason behind it being used for candle making. No, if the fragrance alone was the reason we could have used other essential oils like spike lavender essential oil or gingergrass essential oil since they share similar scent profiles. But we have found that citronella essential oil candles are a better fit for the season. Here’s why-
Why Choose Citronella Candles for Outdoor Use?
Natural Insect Repellent for Summer Nights
As a professional rainy summer season detester, the thing that I dislike the most about it is that the tiny bugs, crickets and mosquitos get a free pass at entering your homes. Once this happens, they are extremely hard to get rid of and it can cause some serious annoyance. This is where your citronella candle making can come in handy. The essence contains the botanical compounds of citronellal, limonene and citronellol which can protect your homes from being an infestation target.
Safer Alternative to Chemical Sprays
If the candles don’t seem to work, you can always switch to using citronella essential oil infused cleaning sprays. One or the other, both these options are good if you have kids at home. With a cleaner smell and mood easing benefits these essential oil products can do what regular chemical sprays cannot. On this happy note, let's look at the ingredients you are going to need for this DIY project.
What You Need to Make DIY Citronella Candles
Wax Options – Soy, Beeswax, or Coconut Wax
Coconut wax is better suited for winter candles because it does not melt then. For this recipe we’ll be melting soy wax pellets because the scent of beeswax can mess with citronella oil’s own scent.
Citronella Essential Oil – Natural Bug Repellent
Make sure you have enough citronella essential oil in your cupboard, so that your candle turns out how you had imagined it to be. You will need at least 25-30 drops of citronella essential oil to make a long lasting candle scent.
Wicks, Containers, and Thermometers
Since we are working with hot and potentially flammable ingredients like essential oils here, it is always best to gather proper tools like long wicks, measuring cups, glass funnels and working thermometers. I would say that this is the first thing you should do before thinking about anything else.
Optional Add-ons – Colorants or Herbs
If you want to go big on candle decoration, this is your chance to do so. If you’re making a candle for gifting, you can always add an herb or two and make it look aesthetically pleasing.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Citronella Candles
Here are the complete instructions on how to make citronella candles-
Step 1 – Prep the Container and Wick
First things first, take a solid heat resistant jar that comes with a lid. Roll the wick around a pencil or a chop stick and put it on the jar so that the wick dangles inside it. This will help with end minute scrambling as you need to quickly pour in the wax.
Step 2 – Melt and Monitor Wax Temperature
Wear your rubber gloves and let the soy wax pellets melt in the fractionated coconut oil. (For a big candle, you will need 2 cups of soy wax and 1 and a half tablespoons of fractionated coconut oil.) Check the temperature using a thermometer and switch off the stove.
Step 3 – Add Citronella Essential Oil
Take about 20 drops of Citronella essential oil and stir the mixture with a steady hand.
Step 4 – Pour and Let It Cool
Pick the container from the handle and pour in the blend till the halfway mark. Sprinkle the herbs. And quickly pour the remaining blend before letting it settle.
Step 5 – Trim the Wick and Store Properly
Once the wax cools, cut the excess part of the wick so that only one and half cm of wick is visible. Then lid the jar to stop the scent of citronella essential oil from fading.
Tips to Make Your Citronella Candle More Effective
Using the Right Concentration of Essential Oil
Using more than required essential oil will not change the effectiveness of the candle against the insects. However it can make your candle smell too strong and intolerable to your senses and can cause itching in the nose and migranes. Check out our post on using essential oils for candle making to find out more about the correct amount of essential oils for candles.
Burn Time and Outdoor Placement
Place your candle in balconies away from plants and any furniture. Light up one candle inside the house for a good measure and blow it out after 45 minutes.
Using Fixative Essential Oils
Prepare a candle blend using citronella essential oil, pine essential oil and vetiver essential oil to make a candle that saves you from additional headaches and pesky insects all in one go. The scent of other fixative essential oils like amyris essential oil and patchouli essential oil can combine beautifully with citronella essential oil’s own.
Final Thoughts
I would say why not! While making candles can be a fun experience in general, using citronella essential oil makes lovely smelling candles that come with a hidden purpose of being an insect repellent.
So, if you’re feeling up for this little DIY challenge, gather your bottle of citronella essential oil and do not forget to check out our collection of other such essential oils for candle making.
FAQs
Are Homemade Citronella Candles as Effective?
Yes! Your homemade citronella candles will be just as effective as store-bought ones if not more.
Can You Use Fragrance Oil Instead of Essential Oil?
Fragrance oils cannot be used to replace essential oils. They lack any compounds that make the insects and pests flee.
How Long Do Citronella Candles Burn?
These candles will burn until the wax finishes or the wind blows it out. Seriously, it all depends on the candle.
Best Wax for Citronella Candles?
Soy wax is believed to be the best wax for citronella candles because it does not have a prominent scent of its own unlike the beeswax. But if you are a seasoned candle maker you can create a blend of both the candle waxes to make a superior candle.
