Our site uses cookies to give you the best experience. Manage your cookies here or continue shopping if you're happy.

Accept & close
Skip to Content
Basket

    DIY: Citronella Candles

    Create the perfect garden party atmosphere with your own homemade candles.

    There’s more to consider when throwing a Great British garden party than simply the food, another key factor to think about is the decor. Dressing your table is key to creating the right atmosphere so today we’re showing you how to make your own citronella candles. When lit they’ll work to create a relaxing ambiance perfect for a garden party but as well as that they’ll keep any pesky mosquito’s away. Practical as well as pretty!

    Here's what you'll need...

    Materials for 3 jar candles:

    • 3 small glass jars
    • 600g soya wax flakes
    • 3 pre-assembled wicks with glue dots or a length of wick to cut to size
    • citronella oil, 30 drops per candle
    • wood skewers and elastic bands to support the wick (not shown)
    • stirring stick
    • thermometer
    • two pots that fit into each other

    Step 1

    Put the smaller pot into the large one and fill the large one with water to come up about 2/3 making sure there’s no water in the small pot.

    Step 2

    Heat the water before putting the wax flakes into the small pot and melt over a medium heat.

    Step 3

    Place the wicks into the jars.

    Step 4

    Measure out the citronella oil.

    Step 5

    Stir the wax before checking the temperature, it should be at 65C.

    Step 6

    Add the citronella oil and stir again.

    Step 7

    Tie two wood skewers together with two elastic bands and place on top of the jar with the wick in the middle. Pour the melted wax into the jars and leave to set over night.

    Shop garden and DIY