How to Make DIY Mosquito Repellent Candles
Summer is official here, which means the bugs are out in full force! We love spending time outside during the summer, but sometimes the mosquitoes in our yard force us to cut the party short. But with these easy DIY mosquito repellent candles, we can enjoy time together outdoors this summer without worrying about bug bites! It’s a simple and useful mason jar craft.
This posts contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase something from my link (at no additional cost to you). Thanks for your support!
These all natural DIY bug repellent candles use a combination of fruit, herbs, and essential oils to create a beautiful farmhouse DIY project for your summer table. And on top of being easy to make, they also smell amazing!
I love how small these mosquito repellant candles are because they make perfect personalized bug protection for each of your guests! Simply set a few out on your patio table, then allow your guests to grab one to place nearby. These candles work best as personal bug protection, so having one for each guest is a great idea!
Make Your Own DIY Mosquito Repellent Candles
To make your own DIY mosquito repellent candles, you’ll need lemon, lime, rosemary, and lemongrass or citronella essential oil. You’ll also need a few small jars and some tea light candles. The number of candles you plan to make will determine how much of each ingredient you’ll need.
To make your own DIY mosquito repellent candles, start by slicing your lemons and limes. You’ll need one slice of each fruit for each jar. As you’re slicing, try to make thick slices so you add as much beneficial citrus juice to your candle as possible.
Place one lemon slice and one lime slice inside each jar. When choosing the size of lemons you’ll use for your DIY mosquito repellent, look for ones that are as wide as the bottom of your jar. When placing the lemon slice into your jar, it’s best to wedge the lemon slice into the bottom of the jar so it stays in place when you add the water. This will keep it from floating up to the top and pushing your candle out of the water.
The next ingredient you’ll add to your DIY mosquito repellent candles is rosemary. Use one sprig of rosemary per jar. As you place the rosemary into the jar, bend it into a circle to create a nest for your candle.
Fill each jar with water, leaving around one-half inch of space at the top of your jar. Finally, add your essential oil to the water. There are a few different essential oils you can use as a natural bug repellent. Whether you use one type of oil or a combination of different scents, add around 15 drops total to each jar. Here are a few different essential oils you can use in your DIY mosquito repellent candles:
- Lemongrass
- Citronella
- Lemon
- Eucalyptus
- Basil
- Clove
- Thyme
And that’s it! See how simple these beautiful candles are to make? And I’m sure you’ll be thankful you have them as you enjoy time outside this summer with your friends and family!
If you like this post, you’ll probably like these:
Emily is a midwestern mom of two boys. She loves all things DIY — from home renovations to kids birthday party planning. Whether she’s making a new farmhouse craft for her home or helping her kids with a cool activity, you can bet she’s in the middle of some kind of DIY project (or three) right now!
Ahhhh! I love this idea, even without the mosquitos! Not only are they pretty, but, mmmmm!
I love this! Never thought of adding it to the water! I know it takes a TON of oil to make candles that actually smell, but this idea is perfect!
This is SO good to know! I bet it smells heavenly instead of all gross and citronella-y
I can’t wait to make these! I am not super crafty, but I believe I can make this work! We are always in need of Mosquito repellent, so they will be very useful.
I love this idea and they look sooo pretty! I pinned for later to make them! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
What a simple and easy way to not only help with mosquitos but dress up my back patio on a lovely summer night. As a gardener, I have so many jars that I can use for this!
So glad I saw this on the Homestead Blog Hop!
This is a wonderful idea and I’m sure they smell wonderful too unlike candles you purchase in the store for bug repellent. Those usually give me a headache. I will be trying these out instead. #HomeMattersParty
Love this idea! If we make the candles ahead of time, how long would they last if you left the lid on/closed tight? Would we be able to make them in the spring, and use them throughout the summer….or would the essential oils evaporate/fruit go rotten if we waited that long?
Unfortunately, these don’t last long after they’re made — maybe just a few days. The fruit starts to rot pretty quickly after the slices are placed in the water. But you could keep the candles and water in the jars, then refresh the fruit, rosemary, and oils as needed throughout the season!
Emily, I appreciate this post. Pinned 📌 so I can try this summer.
Visiting today from SSPS 306 #155,156&157
How perfect Emily. Definitely trying these out for our sub-tropical climate, where mozzies are a real pest.
Thank you for sharing your DIY mosquito repellant candles at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I’m delighted to be featuring this post at tonight’s party and pinning too.
Hugs,
Kerryanne