• Home
  • Recipes
  • Eats & Drinks
    ▼
    • Easy Everyday
    • Desserts
    • Cocktails
    • Drinks
  • Parties
    ▼
    • Party Food
    • Celebrations
    • Everyday Parties
    • Party DIY
    • Party Planning
    • Flowers
  • Home
    ▼
    • Decorating
    • Cleaning
    • Organizing
    • Gardening
  • Holidays
    ▼
    • 4th of July
    • Birthdays
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Saint Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • About
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Press
  • Recipe Index
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Tumblr
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sugar and Charm

  • Eats & Drinks
    • Easy Everyday
    • Desserts
    • Cocktails
    • Drinks
  • Parties
    • Party Food
    • Celebrations
    • Everyday Parties
    • Party DIY
    • Party Planning
    • Flowers
  • Home
    • Decorating
    • Cleaning
    • Organizing
    • Gardening
  • Holidays
    • 4th of July
    • Birthdays
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Saint Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
  • Shop
Home » Home » How to Make Recycled DIY Citronella Candles

How to Make Recycled DIY Citronella Candles

Published on April 13, 2015 Updated on May 24, 2021 by Eden

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
This post may contain Affiliate Links. Please read our privacy policy here.

Grab your old tin cans and use them to make citronella candles you can burn outside all summer long!

We all know how bad mosquitos can be during the summer and fighting them off, so you can enjoy dinner outside, is always a nuisance! Since the weather is warming up, we wanted to create a few of our own citronella candles using recycled wax (candles we already had!) and charming tins we’ve collected.

American Classic tea can turned into a citronella candle

The nice thing about these DIY citronella candles, aside from the chic look, is that you can control how much citronella oil you put into the candle and also add in other scents to offset the smell. We added in a grapefruit scent and the combination was great.

can of tea

So, start saving your tins to make these this summer! And just a quick tip, don’t use any good kitchen items (i.e. shot glasses or measuring cups) you’ll want to keep when working with citronella. It’s so strong and the smell will last forever! We recommend separating craft and cooking items. Enjoy and stay charming!

empty cans for making your own candles
essential oils for candle making

Recycled DIY Citronella Candles 

Table of Contents

  • Recycled DIY Citronella Candles 
    • What you’ll need:
    • Directions for Making Citronella Candles
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More DIY Projects You’ll Love

What you’ll need:

Old candles and candle wax, tins, citronella oil, nicely scented essential oil (we used grapefruit), wicks.

adding a wick into a tin can to make a candle

Directions for Making Citronella Candles

wicks twisted over twigs to make candles

Remove the metal from the bottom of the old candles. The actual wick can stay in and you can remove it after the candle has melted.

Melt the candles over medium heat in a large pot. We used about 4 large candles to fill these tins.

pouring wax into tin cans

While the wax is melting, use a hot glue gun to adhere the bottom of the wick to the tins.

Wrap the wick around a stick and rest it on the top of the candle. This will help it stay in place.

Once the wax has melted, pour into a heat-proof bowl. Add in 1 ounce of citronella oil per 6 cups of melted wax. Then add in 1/2 ounce grapefruit essential oil.

Pour the wax into the tins and let them sit until they harden.

DIY citronella candle filled with wax waiting to dry

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a citronella candle do?

Citronella is an oil that repels insects like mosquitos. Lighting a citronella candle releases the essential oil smell that insects hate. They are moderately effective.

Is citronella toxic to humans?

The Environmental Protection Agency says citronella oil is safe and has no toxicity when used in candles or as a topical repellent.

Candle tin turned into a citronella candle

More DIY Projects You’ll Love

DIY Essential Oil Candles

Repurposing Yankee Jars with Candles

DIY Pine Scented Soy Candles

Keep Bugs Away with DIY Bug Repellent Potpourri.

citronella candles

Let us know if you make these candles by leaving a comment below!

You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious recipes, cocktails, desserts, and parties!


6 Comments

Related Posts

  • Backyard Renovation Plans by Yardzen

    Backyard Renovation Plans by Yardzen

  • How to Arrange Cut Tulips in a Vase

    How to Arrange Cut Tulips in a Vase

  • How to Style a Spring Bar

    How to Style a Spring Bar

Stay up to Date

Join our Newsletter to Keep up on Latest

Related Posts

  • 5 Natural DIY Cleaning Recipes that Work!
  • DIY Reusable Oilcloth Bowl Covers
  • How to Add Eucalyptus in the Shower
  • How to Arrange Cut Tulips in a Vase
Previous Post: « DIY Non-Toxic Bath Bombs
Next Post: How to Make Churros Ice Cream Sandwiches »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joanna says

    November 2, 2015 at 1:09 pm

    Two things I would add to the instructions:

    1) Burn the candle on something that is heat proof. The tins get hot and you don’t want to scorch your furniture.

    2) Before hot gluing the wick tab (the metal wick holder) take your glue gun and run a heavy bead along the seams inside the tin. Sometimes, the tins do leak. The gluing of the seams helps to seal up the tin.

    Reply
  2. Katie Ross says

    October 14, 2015 at 8:20 am

    Great DIY idea! That candles have a vintage kind of look and are just awesome! I’m in love with all those recycled crafts because not only help reducing waste, but also create something beautiful!

    Reply
  3. Milly says

    April 17, 2015 at 11:25 pm

    This is such a great idea! I have an empty tea can that I just have no idea what to do with… now I know! Do you think I can also use this for regular tin cans?

    Reply
    • Mary says

      July 12, 2015 at 9:04 am

      Hi Mila, Yes I’ve seen homemade/DIY tin can candles for sale (so cute!!), but not sure if the technique to make them is the same as the brilliant idea above. Good luck!

      Reply
      • Mary says

        July 12, 2015 at 9:05 am

        *Milly, not Mila lol. Don’t have my glasses on!

      • Eden says

        July 15, 2015 at 8:02 am

        Thank you Mary!!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Eden of Sugar and Charm

Adding a little charm to the everyday life with entertaining and lifestyle inspiration, sweet recipes and classic style… your daily dose of sugar and charm!

Meet
Eden

Eden’s Corner

Eden's Corner

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Signup for the Newsletter
View our Most Charming Posts

Seasonal Recipes

How to Create the Perfect Cheese Platter

How to Create the Perfect Cheese Platter

The Best Banana Bread Recipe Ever

The Best Banana Bread Recipe Ever

Complete Guide to Making Homemade Popsicles + Recipes

Complete Guide to Making Homemade Popsicles + Recipes

How to Make Delicious and Easy Monkey Bread!

How to Make Delicious and Easy Monkey Bread!

A Colorful Backyard Carnival Party Theme

A Colorful Backyard Carnival Party Theme

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce

Popular Posts

The Best Cookie Recipes

The Best Cookie Recipes

Cranberry Orange Cornbread Recipe

Cranberry Orange Cornbread Recipe

Super Moist Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Super Moist Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Frozen Gin and Tonic Recipe

Frozen Gin and Tonic Recipe

Valentine’s Day Charcuterie and Dessert Platter!

Valentine’s Day Charcuterie and Dessert Platter!

Guide to Hosting a Tropical Summer Party!

Guide to Hosting a Tropical Summer Party!

Footer

You Might Also Like

homemade grenadine syrup

Homemade Grenadine Recipe

snickerdoodle cookies

The Perfect Chewy Snickerdoodle Recipe!

brass monkey drink

How to Make a Brass Monkey Drink

cheese platter

How to Create the Perfect Cheese Platter

apple cider donuts with cinnamon and sugar

The Best Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Featured In:

Featured In Logos

Copyright © 2022 · Sugar and Charm · Privacy Policy · Accessibility Statement