As you may already know, I love doing DIY craft projects.
I especially enjoy it when I can use the final products in different useful ways like this Citronella Floating Candle recipe. This cute DIY candle can serve as a decoration because of its artsy presentation and as an insect repellant because of the essential oils we used to make this recipe.
With this candle recipe, you can both improve the look and ambiance of your space while also getting rid of those pesky mosquitos and bugs that can ruin your relaxation or date night.
What I Love About This Floating Candle Recipe
I really love how super customizable this recipe is!! You can use your imagination and tap into your creative mind on how you want to decorate it. But most importantly, you can also change the essential oils to use to achieve your chosen fragrance to set the perfect mood in any setting.
Another thing you can experiment with is the floating candle itself. Instead of using oil, you can also make a floating candle using a wick, 2 tbsp of beeswax and a mold like a mini cupcake tin. So much fun!
What’s in This Citronella Floating Candle Recipe
Jar
The jar acts as a vase that will hold the recipe together. It can be any size or shape as long as its mouth is large enough to hold the candle. Of course, make sure it’s stylish and transparent so you can easily decorate it.
Floating Wick
Like a regular candle, this recipe needs a wick to burn the oil underneath. This special wick will float on top of the recipe and will exude the flame’s aroma.
Oil
The oil will allow the candle to burn. You can use vegetable oil or any cooking oil available in your kitchen.
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Lemongrass Essential Oil is an effective natural insect repellant that is just as effective as its commercial counterparts. It contains citronellol and geraniol that can help repel various types of insects.
Also, Lemongrass is traditionally used to ease a number of digestive problems and nausea. If you’re planning for an outside dinner, bring this candle with you!
Citronella Essential Oil
Citronella Essential Oil is a known natural insect repellant. In fact, it is listed as a pesticide in the United States by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency1.
Also, both Lemongrass and Citronella Essential Oils provide a wonderful aroma to this recipe that can improve mood.
Flowers, Cut Fruit, Spices, Leaves, etc.
You can choose any decor of your liking for this floating candle recipe. You can match it with the setting of the event or with your mood. Your imagination is the limit here.
Water
The water shows off decorations and it is where the oil will float so the wick remains above the jar’s lip.
Things to Remember When Using This Candle
Always dilute an essential oil when using it on the skin. This recipe is unlikely to cause skin irritation when diluted properly. Check out this dilution chart for diluting this essential oil properly.
This recipe is generally safe to use if you are pregnant. Consult your doctor prior to use.
These essential oils are safe to use with kids age 10+.
Cats may find the oils in this recipe irritating. However, we do not expect your cat to be disturbed if you use this recipe on yourself. Just be mindful of your pet’s behavior. For more information on using essential oils with cats, check out this blog post.
This recipe is generally safe to diffuse and use topically on dogs. For more information on using essential oils with dogs, check out this blog post.
We don’t recommend ingesting essential oils unless under the direction of a doctor certified in aromatherapy. For more information on why we don’t ingest essential oils check out this blog post.
*Please note: This post is a compilation of suggestions made by those that have extensively used essential oils and has not been verified scientifically with clinical tests nor reviewed by medical experts. It is anecdotal information and should be treated as such. For serious medical concerns, please consult your doctor. The statements given in this blog post have not been verified by the FDA
Citronella Floating Candle Recipe
Floating Candle Recipe You Can Personalize
Ingredients
3 jars or glass containers (any size or shape)*
Decorative items (ex: flowers, fruit, leaves, pinecones, shells)*
Floating wicks
5 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil
10 drops Citronella Essential Oil
~2 Tbsp vegetable oil (or other cooking oil) per jar*
Water
Directions
- Place decorative items like flowers, leaves, shells, or fruit in your jars. It’s easier if these items don’t float.
- Add water to the jars until they’re almost full (leave about an inch from the top).
Tip: Depending on the container you are using, you may want to complete this step in the location where you plan to use the candles so that you don’t need to carry them to their final location full of water. - Add 2 Tbsp vegetable oil and 15 drops essential oil to each jar. You can expect 2 Tbsp of vegetable oil to burn for about four hours. (This time is based on using a mason jar; time can vary based on the width of the jar.) Add more or less vegetable oil depending on how long you want your candle to burn.
- Stir the vegetable oil and essential oils thoroughly. †
- Assemble wicks so that ~ ⅓ of the wick comes out of the foil lined side. Place wicks on top of oil, cork side down. Make sure none of the decorative items will come into contact with the flame. Try pushing items down or weighing them down if it looks like they will come into contact with the flame. If your jar has a neck, make sure that the wick floats above the neck.
- To use, light the candle wick. Burn within eyesight, away from kids, pets, and flammable objects. The flame will naturally extinguish as it runs out of oil. You can also extinguish the flame by blowing it out. The wick will last for several uses. Refresh décor, water, and oils as needed.
Notes
- †Essential oils are flammable. If the essential oils are only dropped onto the cooking oil without stirring, the essential oils will remain floating on the surface of the oil and may catch fire. The amount of essential oil in this recipe is based on using 2 Tbsp of vegetable oil. If you plan to use more oil as described in step 3, you can proportionally add more essential oil.
- We did not include stickers in this Recipe Box for your Citronella Floating Candle. Your fun décor in your clear glass jars can be the star of the show.
- Tip: After you burn through your oil, feel free to change up the essential oils you use the next round. Once you burn through your entire wick, you can keep the floating tab and add another trimmed wick to recreate the floating wick.
Decor and Insect Repellant in One
Since we’re leaving the decorations up to you, we are all so excited to see your final product! Share it on social media with @fromsimplyearth and in the comments below so other Earthies will see your creative work!
To learn more about how to use essential oils, check out our Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box. When you subscribe, we’ll ship you a monthly supply of four 100% pure essential oils, six natural recipes like this floating candle recipe, and all the quality ingredients you’ll need to make your own wonderful products for just $44.99/month. All of these goodies have over $100 value, plus we’ll give you a FREE Big Bonus Box when you subscribe.
Subscribe today to learn how to use essential oils!
References:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. R.E.D. Facts: Oil of Citronella. Washington, D.C.; 1997.