Essential Oil Citronella Candles

Essential Oils for a Clean and Healthy Home (Adams Media, 2016) by Kasey Schwartz is a full guide on using essential oils to help keep your home clean and healthy. Schwartz offers all of her favorite essential oil tips to use around the home, without having to worry about harmful chemicals. The following excerpt is her guide to creating citronella candles with essential oils.

Citronella is known to keep insects away. Use this essential oil to make your own outdoor candle the all-natural way without harmful chemicals.

Yield: 2 Citronella Candles

• 2 (6-inch) candle wicks (can be found at any craft store)
• 2 (1/2-pint) Mason jars
• Glue gun and hot glue
• 2 wooden popsicle sticks
• 1 (1-pound) block soy wax or beeswax
• 20 drops citronella essential oil

To Make: Prepare candleholder by gluing a wick to the inside bottom of each Mason jar with your glue gun. Wrap the top end of each wick around a popsicle stick and lay stick across the top of the jar to keep it in place. Make a double boiler by simmering 1 cup of water in a pot on the stove. Place a metal bowl slightly smaller than the pot over the water, then add wax to the bowl. Stir wax until melted. Remove from heat and add citronella oil to melted wax. Stir well. Add melted wax to candle jars evenly, adjusting wicks if needed once the liquid is completely poured in. Allow to harden for 4-6 hours or longer if needed. Trim wick to 1/4-inch tall before lighting.

To Use: Burn as normal.