Whenever I catch a whiff of citronella, I’m taken back to family camping trips. As an adult, I’m still interested in keeping mosquitoes away (see my post-bite efforts in Stop the Itch: Natural Mosquito Bite Remedies) but less keen on slathering my skin with something that smelly.
Whenever I catch a whiff of citronella, I’m taken back to family camping trips. As an adult, I’m still interested in keeping mosquitoes away (see my post-bite efforts in Stop the Itch: Natural Mosquito Bite Remedies) but less keen on slathering my skin with something that smelly.
Photography by Erin Boyle for Gardenista.
Photography by Erin Boyle for Gardenista.
Instead, I like to take a tip from Michelle and surround myself with candles, which sets a mood and keeps the bugs away.
Instead, I like to take a tip from Michelle and surround myself with candles, which sets a mood and keeps the bugs away.
Use an old knife to break half a pound of beeswax into small pieces that will melt evenly. A 12-inch Wax and Honey Thermometer is $14.50 from Brushy Mountain Bee Farm.
Use an old knife to break half a pound of beeswax into small pieces that will melt evenly. A 12-inch Wax and Honey Thermometer is $14.50 from Brushy Mountain Bee Farm.
Materials
Materials
Add several drops of each essential oil to the melted wax. Beeswax has a distinctive smell, so add an extra drop or two more than you think you need, to make sure your candles are scented enough to repel insects.
Add several drops of each essential oil to the melted wax. Beeswax has a distinctive smell, so add an extra drop or two more than you think you need, to make sure your candles are scented enough to repel insects.
Pour the scented wax into the tart tins.
Pour the scented wax into the tart tins.
Let the wax cool slightly until a skin starts to form. The wax will smooth out around the wick as it hardens.
Let the wax cool slightly until a skin starts to form. The wax will smooth out around the wick as it hardens.
Pre-assembled wicks come already primed, i.e. coated in wax.
Pre-assembled wicks come already primed, i.e. coated in wax.
Let the wax harden, then trim the wick to a height of 1/4 inch.
Let the wax harden, then trim the wick to a height of 1/4 inch.
Each tea light will burn for four to six hours.
Each tea light will burn for four to six hours.
