Maybe it’s the fact that it feels like, all of a sudden, the sun has decided to stay out way past dinnertime or maybe it’s the fact that I just came home from a land where I was covered in bug bites, but I am in the mood for natural bug repellents.
Enter citronella, the bug-repelling grass that keeps those pesky mosquitos away. I recently got my hands on some citronella essential oil and have been brainstorming ways to include it in my summer stash. First up: an easy beeswax citronella candle you can make at home.
Citronella Candle
- Organic beeswax pastilles (like these)
- Double boiler (or bowl that can fit into a saucepan)
- 1 container for the candle (I used an old almond butter jar, but this could be fun with leftover tin cans)
- Thermometer (this candy thermometer would work)
- 1 candle wick (I like these)
- 2 chopsticks and tape
- 40 drops citronella essential oil (like this)
Create your water bath with a double boiler or saucepan filled with water and glass bowl over it. Measure two times the beeswax as the size of your final candle container and pour into the water bath to melt.
While your wax is melting, secure your wick at the bottom of your candle jar and secure with 2 chopsticks and some tape.
Once the wax is melted, take it off heat and let sit (with the thermometer) in until it gets to 125F (this prevents cracking and shrinking once the wax gets into the container). Once it’s at 125F, add in 40 drops of citronella oil and pour into the candle container.
Let candle cool completely, then snip your wick.