DIY

Citronella candles, one of the most popular anti mosquito remedies

How to make them at home with real lemongrass essential oil

Kenny GAugust 8, 2023

48 3 minutes read

Citronella candles are the perfect ally against mosquitoes and other insects. Let’s learn together how to make them at home. The process is relatively simple and can be fun to make together with children.

Contents

1 How to make citronella candles at home
2 Where to buy citronella candles
3 Other useful insights agains mosquitoes
4 How to keep insects naturally away

The arrival of summer is always awaited for the warm weather, longer days, the sea and the sunshine, friend of the tan. But the most anticipated season of the year, also brings with it some unpleasant company, such as mosquitoes and all the little stinging insects that during hot weather torment us with their annoying stings.

We know that there are candles that keep these unpleasant insects away, thanks to their fragrance, so here is how to make citronella candles.

Citronella is a plant that keeps these obnoxious insects away, and its essence is widely used in candles and other anti-mosquito products. Commercially, however, an artificially reproduced essence is almost always used instead of Citronella, the real anti-mosquito essence.

How to make citronella candles at home

Let’s start, of course, with the ingredients.

Ingredients to make citronella candles

You need to equip yourself with:

clean glass jars (we can reuse canning jars)
crystals of natural wax
candle wick for candles
two pots (to allow the wax to be melted in a bain-marie)
paint spray to give a colorful effect to the jar (optional)
special labels to apply to the jar
hot glue
wooden stick
pads for cloth
colored wax pads (optional)
lemongrass essential oil

Citronella candles: how to prepare the containers

After washing and drying them, if you like, you can paint them with colored spray paint or clear satin glass effect.

You can also prepare an area of the jar to attach a label: it will be enough to protect it from the spray paint by applying a piece of paper tape before the painting stage, to be removed when the paint dries.

Once the paint is dry, insert the wick into the can, gluing it to the base with hot glue.

To make sure the wick is securely attached to the bottom, help yourself with a wooden stick.

Wrap the other end of the wick to a wooden stick, securing it with a clothespin so that it will not move when we go to pour the liquid wax.

citronella candles — Lemongrass candles: citronella candle you can also make at home in a few simple steps

To make sure the wick is firmly attached to the bottom, help yourself with a wooden stick.

Wrap the other end of the wick to a wooden stick, securing it with a clothespin so that it will not move when we go to pour the liquid wax.

Citronella candles: how to prepare the wax

Melt the wax crystals in a double boiler and, if you wish, you can add the wax crayons in small pieces to color it. At this point also pour in the true citronella esential oil (3-4 drops for small candles, 4-5 drops for larger candles). Do not overdose because the oil tends to separate from the wax.

Stir once more and carefully pour the melted wax inside the containers. It comes best with a small pot with a spout, otherwise help yourself with a spoon or ladle. Let the wax solidify and finally the candle will be ready to use.

With this process you can make any type of scented candle, simply replace the citronella essential oil with other essences.

Where to buy citronella candles

If you did not have time to try your hand at home praparation of these candles, here are also some common places where you can find them:

Home Improvement Stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Ace Hardware often carry citronella candles in their outdoor and gardening sections.
Local garden centers or nurseries are good places to check for citronella candles, especially during the spring and summer seasons.
Many supermarkets and department stores have a home and garden section where you can find citronella candles. Stores like Walmart, Target, or Kroger often carry them.
Outdoor Recreation Stores like REI or Cabela’s may have citronella candles in their camping or outdoor living sections.
Websites such as Amazon, eBay, or specialty candle retailers like Yankee Candle or Bed Bath & Beyond offer a wide selection of citronella candles that can be purchased online and delivered to your doorstep.
Check your local candle shops or specialty home decor stores. They might carry citronella candles or be able to recommend other local retailers that do.