How to make a citronella candle?

How to Make a Citronella Candle

• Answer:

  Citronella candles are an attractive and effective way to keep mosquitoes and other flying insects away. Citronella candles can, however, be easily ruined by using the wrong formulation of citronella and wax additives. To make candles that will burn evenly, without caving in, the formulation should be changed slightly from other types of scented candles. Difficulty: Moderately Easy Things You'll Need Candle wax Pouring pot or double boiler Wax thermometer Citronella scent Candle coloring Vybar Stearine Candle mold Wick Instructions Start with a paraffin wax base. Melt the wax in the pouring pot or double boiler and allow it to become liquid. Monitor the temperature with a wax thermometer so that the wax doesn't get hot enough to become hazardous. Use two to three times as much citronella in the candle as you would any other type of scent. The basic guideline for most liquid scents is about 1 ounce for every pound of wax. Use two to three ounces of citronella per pound of wax. Using that much of some scents may make the odor too overwhelming, but with citronella, the stronger the scent, the more effective the candle will be. Citronella candles are also made to be used outdoors, so an overwhelming scent is not as much an issue. Add in your color if you want to use it. Citronella candles are traditionally colored yellow to signify their citrus-like scent. However, any color can be used. Use the same amount of color as with any other candle. Read the packet instructions to find out how much of your coloring should be used for each pound of wax. Put both Vybar and stearine into the liquid wax. The Vybar is used to keep the scent of citronella in the candle. The stearine makes the wax stronger. For every pound of wax, use at least 3 teaspoons of stearine and about half a teaspoon of Vybar. Get the mold ready. Put candle wick, either waxed or unwaxed, through the wick hole at the bottom of the candle mold. Use mold sealer to seal the hole shut around the wick. Pour the liquid wax into the candle mold. Once it is poured to your desired height, use a spoon to tap the outside of the mold a few times to get rid of any bubbles. Once the wax has cooled, slide it out of the mold and trim the wick down to about half an inch. The candle is now ready to keep away the bugs.