DIY Citronella Candles For Summer

Found this blog on Free People and its genius. I can not wait to make some of these in May for those warmer nights that are just around the corner!

“One of the best things about warmer weather is throwing parties outside! I love cooking on the grill and spending as much time as possible outdoors during the spring and summer months, but there is one thing I have little tolerance for: bugs. Particularly mosquitoes. I tend to shy away from using insect repellant, because I hate the smell and having it on my body. I prefer citronella candles to keep the bugs away – citronella oil is plant based and non-toxic, so you don’t have to feel bad about harming the environment. These candles also very easy to make at home! Plus this way you can put them in whatever type of container you want and make large batches of citronella candles for summer parties.

What you need: Wax (I used soy wax for two candles and I also used the remainder of my block of wax from this project – both from AC Moore), candle wicks, containers for your candles, Krazy glue, and citronella oil. I ordered the citronella oil from here, and I also picked up some eucalyptus oil to mix in. If you don’t want the citronella scent to be too strong, I recommend mixing in a second oil. Start by adhering the wick to the bottom of your candle containers with Krazy glue. Melt the wax in a pot over the stove at a low heat – I recommend having a dedicated pot for stuff like this. Remove the wax from the heat as soon as it has fully melted, and at this point mix in your essential oils. I used about ten drops of the citronella oil and five drops of eucalyptus. Pour the wax into your containers and place them in the refrigerator or freezer – they’ll harden in just a few hours!” ENJOY!