How to Make Citronella Bucket Candles

Making your own citronella candles for your patio or picnic table and keep the bugs away. There's no need to go to your hardware or home improvement store to get citronella just so you can enjoy your back yard. And, no more inhaling mosquitoes while you enjoy a burger on the patio.

Things You'll Need

• Small metal buckets
• Wax
• Citronella essential oil
• Electric burner
• Coffee can
• Pot larger than the can
• Wicks
• Wick tabs
• Candy thermometer
• Crayons for color
• 2 pencils

Instructions

1. Get all your supplies ready and set up. Pick out a couple small metal buckets. Four-inch buckets work well with this project. They come in a range of colors and painted scenes. If you have a special theme to your patio, you might want to start out by painting your bucket to match your theme. If you already a candle maker, gather up your scraps of wax for this project. If not, new wax if fine. Measure from the bottom of the bucket to about an inch above and cut your wick.

2. Melt your wax. At the top of the coffee can, bend just slightly to give it a pour spout. Put your wax in the coffee can. Boil water in a pot about 1/2 full on an electric burner. Put the coffee can in the boiling water and melt the wax to about 180 degrees. First dip in your wick a couple times to prime it. You can push it around the inside of the can and squeeze the air out of it. Let it sit on a piece of aluminum foil until it drys. Put one end of the wick in a wick tab and drip a couple drops of wax on the bottom of the bucket in the center. Stick the wick in the bucket.

3. Add the oil scent and color. While the wax is hot, pour in the essential oil. You need about 1 to 1 1/2 ounces of oil to 1 pound of wax. Break up a crayon and add a little at a time until you get the color you desire. Citronella is usually yellow, but you can make it whatever color you want. Crayons are not usually suggested for color because they don't burn well and cause it to smoke. In the case of a citronella candle, this is a good thing. Smoke helps keep the bugs away.

4. Pour your wax into the bucket. Use oven mitts or pot holders if you're using a coffee can as the wax will make the can hot. Very carefully and slowly, pour the wax into the bucket. Make sure you have extra to top off the candle after it cools. Straighten out the wick and use two pencils across the top of the bucket to hold the wick up straight. Let the wax dry. It should cool in 4 or 5 hours.

5. Top off the candle. Use your extra wax and heat it up again. Your candle will have settled, leaving an indent around the center. Pour the wax in and make it level again. Let it cool for about 24 hours and cut your wick to about an inch.

Tips & Warnings

• Never leave melting wax unattended. Wax is flammable and hot wax can cause serious burns.