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Citronella candles are scented with the oil from the citronella plant. This grass is known to repel insects with its scent. When the scent is burned in a candle, it diffuses the aroma and repels bugs.
by Tess Pennington
It’s time to begin enjoying the outdoors more now that the weather is warming up. As fun as those barbecues and patio parties are, insects can really put a damper on outdoor plans. You can spray smelly chemicals on the body, but who wants to?
Citronella candles are a natural alternative to repelling those annoying insects and provide a pleasant scent at the same time. They can easily be made and are also very adaptable to what you have on hand. The key ingredient you must have is citronella essential oil. Citronella oil is obtains from the leaves and stems of the Cymbopogon species.
You can use a variety of vessels when making a citronella candle. Some common vessel sources are:
- #10 aluminum can
- aluminum pots
- mason jars
- terra cotta pots
- flower pots that do not have any holes in the bottom
Materials:
- glass or metal containers
- hot glue gun
- a double boiler
- wax (soy wax, paraffin wax, old candle …
One of the main reasons for the increasing use of the Citronella candles; is to prevent insect-borne diseases such as malaria caused by mosquito bites. A Mosquito can transmit the virus into the human blood stream through direct contact. Malaria is a very common serious illness that can result in death if not treated immediately. Many individuals have also been concerned about the spread of the HIV virus, especially after having been in direct contact with someone with aids. These are health issues that many may not be well informed about.
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