FLOATING CITRONELLA CANDLES

For complete information on how to make these floating candles, please click on the following link:

http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2012/04/diy-floating-citronella-candles.html

My inspiration to make floating citronella candles initially came last year when I saw from these oversized citronella candles from Pottery Barn (can you believe that $69 price tag?!). I absolutely love the look of floating candles for outdoor entertaining, and giving the candles bug-repellent powers makes a good thing even better! Many people don’t realize how simple it is to make citronella candles. All you need is some candle wax (I prefer the natural soy variety), some citronella essential oil and a few other readily-available ingredients to craft candles to keep mosquitoes at bay. These candles came together in less than a nap time, and I cannot wait to use them at our first outdoor gathering of the season. Ready to see how I put them together? Let’s get right to it!
For this project, you will need… Soy candle wax Double boiler Zinc-core candle wick Old crayons, for color (optional) Hot glue Old muffin tins Non-stick cooking spray Citronella essential oil (found in natural food stores; not the torch oil you put in outdoor tiki lamps)

Additional Information

Are muffin tins used for this project food safe afterward?

Although the soy wax is plant-based and the crayons are non-toxic, the citronella is not intended for consumption, so to be on the safe side, I would recommend only using old muffin tins that you do not intend to use for edible items later on.

Where can I buy the citronella oil?

I purchased my oil at Whole Foods. After making three batches of these candles, I still have well over half of the bottle remaining!

Can I use melted down, old candles I have on hand for this project?

As long as the candles are all-natural and free of perfumes, I would say that would work just fine. Avoid using scented candles, though, as that might interfere with the effectiveness of the essential oil.

How much oil do I need to add?

After a bit of trial and error, I have found a good oil-to-wax ratio to be 5 drops per cup of unmelted wax. You want to add enough oil to make them potent, but not so much that it starts to separate from the wax. Of course, you can always feel free to experiment by adding even more than the amount I’ve specified.

Will these provide 100% protection from bug bites?

Probably not. While I have found that sitting within a close proximity of these candles definitely reduces the number of bites I receive, I definitely recommend using another method of protection if you want to avoid bites entirely. For a great, all-natural option, check out my recipe for homemade all-natural bug repellent.

Travel Candle

Whether you’re traveling for the holidays or staying put this chic gold candle adds a bit or romance. Personalize it by adding a few drops of your signature scent or a swatch of patterned paper to the lid. Who knew making your own candle was so easy?

For the full instructions on how to make these fun little travelers, please visit:

https://www.forthemakers.com/projects/hester-travel-candle