Summer is a beautiful time of year. The warm weather brings an array of refreshing stone fruits and many opportunities for outdoor activities. While you are enjoying the outdoor warmth, though, you have to worry about pesky bugs like mosquitos. Nothing dampens an outdoor gathering like a bunch of unwelcome mosquitos that bite everyone. The good news is that you don’t need chemical bug sprays to keep them away.
One of the best ways to keep mosquitos away is by lighting several candles that contain ingredients that repel insects. Not only are these DIY candles a great arts and crafts activity for the entire family, but they come in handy and prove very effective against mosquitos. Many natural ingredients, which you may already have in your home, have bug repelling properties.
Do Homemade Candles Really Work?
It seems suspicious that homemade candles with herbs and fruit can repel mosquitos, but they do work surprisingly well. Out of the recipes in this article, you’ll notice that basil is a common ingredient. According to several studies, several compounds in basil are highly toxic to various types of mosquito larvae. Additionally, basil alone has about a 79% efficacy rate of repelling mosquitos. It’s a very pungent herb and insects like mosquitos tend to steer clear of potent smells. That’s why some of the recipes also contain citrus fruits and essential oils.
The following three recipes can help you keep mosquitos away this summer. Let us know if they work for you while you spend time outside.
DIY Basil Lemon Candles
Ingredients:
- Candle wax
- Mason jars
- Wick stickers
- Citronella essential oil
- Lemon essential oils
- Basil leaves
- Wooden chopsticks
- Container with spout
Instructions:
- Place the wick stickers in the bottom of the Mason jars and attach the wicks securely. Make sure you center them in the jars.
- Roughly chop your desired amount of wax (depends on how large the jars are) and melt the wax in the top of a double boiler over medium-low heat.
- Make sure to stir the wax occasionally to ensure that it melts evenly. When it is almost complete melted, add a few basil leaves to the wax.
- Use a fork to remove the basil leaves and then remove the wax from the heat. Stir in a few drops of lemon and citronella essential oil (about 3 drops each per one cup of wax).
- Once the wax is slightly cooled and still in liquid form, carefully pour it into the mason jars to fill them about halfway. Add three more drops of both lemon and citronella essential oil in each jar. You can drop some fresh basil leaves into the jars for aesthetic appeal.
- Make sure to hold the wicks in the center while you fill up the jars. Once the wax hardens, trim the wicks so that they are a half-inch above the wax. Light candles and enjoy no bugs.
DIY Basil Lemongrass Candles
Ingredients:
- 2 pint-size Mason jars
- 2 floating candles
- 1 lemon
- 1 lime
- Basil
- Lemongrass essential oil
Instructions:
- Slice the lemon and lime into thin rounds. Add a few lemon and lime slices to each of the jars.
- Add a couple sprigs of basil to each jar.
- Fill a jar with enough water so that there is about one half-inch of room at the top.
- Add 15 drops of lemongrass essential oil to each jar and stir to combine.
- Top each jar with a floating candle, light, and enjoy a mosquito-free summer.
DIY Rosemary Citrus Candles
Ingredients:
- 2 lemons
- 2 limes
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- 2 pint-size Mason jars
- 10-20 drops citronella essential oil
- 2 floating candles
Instructions:
- Slice the lemons and limes into wedges. Take your rosemary sprigs and cut them to the size of your jars.
- Fill each jar 3/4 of the way full with tap water. Add 10 drops of citronella essential oil to each jar and stir.
- First add the rosemary sprigs and then top off with the lemon and lime wedges.
- Top each jar with a floating candle, light, and watch the bugs fly away.
