How to Create Citronella Candles
Citronella candles are paraffin candles made with the scent of citronella in order to ward off mosquitoes and other flying insects. Citronella candles are lit on porches and patios in the evening to allow people to gather without being bitten by bugs. A citronella candle is made much like any other scented paraffin candle, though an extra additive (Vybar) is often included to allow the wax to hold a higher concentration of the scent. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 1 lb. paraffin wax
- Candle pouring pot
- Source of heat
- Citronella scent
- Vybar
- Candle color
- Candle mold
- Candle wick
Instructions
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1
Place 1 pound of paraffin wax into a metal pot, and put the pot onto a heat source. Use a hot plate if you don't want your cooking stove surface to become coated in wax.
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2
Heat the wax until it melts fully.
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3
Add 1 to 1 1/2 oz. of citronella scent to the wax.
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4
Add about 1 tsp. of Vybar to the mix.
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5
Color the wax with a candle color chip. Add half of a small diamond color chip for every pound of wax. Add more to achieve a darker color, less to achieve a lighter, pastel shade. Many people color citronella candles yellow or orange to reflect the citrus scent of the citronella.
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6
Thread a cotton candle wick through the bottom of a cylindrical pillar mold and attach the wick screw. If the mold did not come with a wick screw, find a screw that will fit through the wick hole to keep wax from leaking.
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7
Hold the wick at the top of the mold by tying it to a wick bar or something else that you can lay across the top of the pillar mold.
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8
Slowly pour the citronella-scented wax into the mold to keep bubbles from forming.
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9
Leave the wax to harden for a few hours.
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10
Remove the candle from the mold only after the outside of the mold feels cool.
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Tips & Warnings
Set out all of your candle making supplies before you begin. This will make it unnecessary to leave the melting wax alone to go look for specific supplies.
If the paraffin was purchased in bulk slabs, it might have to be cut to size with a knife to allow it to fit into the pot.
Using a candle thermometer to keep an eye on the wax temperature can help prevent any accidents.
References
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
