Ward Off Mosquitoes This Summer With a DIY Citronella Candle!

2 Materials
$5
10 Minutes
Easy

Don’t let the mosquitos and bugs ruin your summertime fun! You can make your own homemade Citronella Candles to keep mosquitoes away with a few supplies!

If there is one thing I never have on hand during the summer, it is citronella candles. My family and I love to sit outside and enjoy dinner during the summer months, but we do not love the bugs it attracts. Citronella is a natural mosquito repellent.


I love a good DIY Project and I thought it would be fun to use one of the hundred mason jars I have on hand to create my own DIY Citronella candles!


Last year, I made quite a few of these for our back deck and our picnic table. I love the great ambiance it added to my back yard. Even if you aren’t a DIY type of person, I am pretty positive you can make these!

How to make your own DIY Mason Jar Citronella Candles:

Supplies needed to create your own Mason Jar Citronella Candles (with affiliate links)


The first step is to make a hole in your mason jar lid with a drill bit right in the middle of your lid.


Pull your wick through the hole, you will want to leave about 2 inches of the wick out of the hole, make sure the rest goes all the way to the bottom of the jar.


Fill the glass jars with the citronella and screw the top of the jar on.


I think it should go without saying that these citronella torches are for outdoor use only.

These Mason Jar Citronella Candles are a great way to add to your outdoor decor. You can change up the color of the jars to match your outdoor space. For example, I love using blue mason jars! Or you can make your candles smaller using jam jars and a smaller wick.


They even make a fun hostess gift for the next BBQ.

What should I do if I am having trouble getting the wick through the hole?

Use a small piece of duct tape to wrap the end of the wick and then pull it through the hole.

Is there a natural solution to get rid of pesky mosquitoes that I can use?

Yes! Use 1 cup olive oil and a few drops of citronella essential oil. If there is none of the natural citronella oil, you can try tea tree or peppermint oil. These are all a common ingredient in natural bug sprays and can be found at your local health food store.

How long will I get a nice glow from my candles?

The rule of thumb is 1 hour of burning time per 1 oz of fuel.


Good luck!


Materials


  • * Tiki Torch replacement wicks or 1/8" candle wicks,

  • * A Mason Jar with lid,

  • * Citronella


Tools


  • a screwdriver and hammer or a dremel


Instructions

  1. I opted to use one of my mason jars and a lid meant to transform your mason jar into a cup. It worked perfectly for my purpose!
  2. Just keep in mind if you do this, to remove the rubber stopper.
  3. If you don't use a lid like this and decide to use the mason jar lid, use a screwdriver and hammer or a dremel to poke a hole in the middle of your lid.
  4. Pull your wick through the hole, fill the jar with citronella and voila! A DIY Mason Jar Citronella Candle!


Notes

Tip: Having trouble getting the wick through the hole? Use a small piece of duct tape to wrap the end of the wick and then pull it through the hole.


Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

TIKI 1216155 Brand BiteFighter 100 Ounce Torch Fuel

EricX Light Long Life Fiberglass Replacement Wicks for Tiki Torch - 12 Piece - 0.5 by 9.85 Inch

Ball Regular Mouth Mason Jars with Lids and Bands, 16-Ounces (4-Pack)

Set of Four (4) Regular Mouth Mason Jar Straw Lids with Straws (Solid)

Reesa @ Mommalew.com
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
  3 questions
  • Bobbie robertson Bobbie robertson on May 23, 2021

    How do you put out the flame when your done?

  • MK McDonald MK McDonald on May 24, 2021

    Love it! Have you heard the old or new news? Bring an electric fan outside and point it in your family’s direction, turn it on and voilà! No more mosquitos!


  • Lin1263925 Lin1263925 on May 26, 2022

    I have a case of mason jars sitting around great idea, my question is when I put them out do I need to make sure they stay out of the rain?

Comments
Join the conversation
 2 comments
Next