DIY Mosquito Repellent Candles

Ever try to enjoy a quiet summer evening on the porch… only to end up as the main course for a swarm of hungry mosquitoes? Yeah, me too.

And it’s not just the itching and scratching. These little suckers can carry some serious threats. West Nile. Zika. Even certain mosquito-borne parasites in some parts of the U.S. Basically, a whole lot of things you don’t want anywhere near you or your family.

But before you reach for that bug spray on your shelf, flip the bottle and read the ingredients.

Then come back here and try something that’s just as safe as it is effective.

Yeah, store-bought sprays might help, but most of them are packed with harsh chemicals I’d rather not breathe in, let alone put on my skin. That’s why I started making my own mosquito-repellent candles. They’re simple, effective, and made with ingredients I actually know and trust.

And they smell a whole lot better than anything in an aerosol can.

I’ll show you how to make your own all-natural candles that keep mosquitoes at bay, so you can actually enjoy that summer breeze without slapping your arms every five seconds.

Types of Candles and Wax

When we think of a candle, we think of wax, but there are some variations, from a wax candle to torch-fueled and even an incense form. We’re going to keep this simple and stick to wax candles.

Wax possibilities vary from beeswax to soy wax, traditional candle wax and even crayon wax. The fact of the matter is that the wax doesn’t matter as much as the essential herbs or oils that are added to the wax to repel mosquitoes. Some people just recycle old candles and melt them down. That works too.

Melting candle wax also requires some attention.

You can melt the wax in an old metal coffee can or old saucepan. Be careful and moderate the heat at low temperatures. Wax is highly flammable and if the temperature gets too high it can combust and cause a fire. Keep the temperature low and be patient.

Trying to keep the heat low and steady on a regular stove takes serious patience, and a whole lot of time. So I decided to skip the hustle and switched to a candle wax melting pot. It controls the temperature perfectly every time, so I never have to worry about flames or ruined batches again. If you want an easier, safer way to melt your wax, this is the one I trust:

👉 Ksedcon Non-Stick Candle Melting Pot with Pouring Spout

Once the wax is melted you can add your herbs or other ingredients and then pour into your molds to harden.

The Key Ingredients

What makes a mosquito repellent candle work is the combination of various herbs, fruits and spices. The citronella plant has emerged as one of the most popular ingredients for repelling mosquitoes. In fact, just planting citronella can repel them in an area. Here’s the list of the most popular organic mosquito repellent ingredients:

What really keeps mosquitoes at bay in a repellent candle is the blend of herbs, fruits, and spices—like citronella, lemongrass, lavender, lemon eucalyptus, catnip, peppermint, fennel sprigs, basil, rosemary, lemon balm, tea tree oil, and even grated rinds of lemon and grapefruit.

Typically, these potential ingredients are ground or macerated in a food processor and simply added to the melting candle wax. As the wax hardens, the various herbs, plants or grated rinds are added to the melting pot and stirred and will be evenly distributed as the wax hardens. As the candle burns, the herbs will also burn and release their mosquito repelling scents.

The one I use and highly recommend is the KitchenAid 13-Cup Food Processor. It’s a total game-changer. Powerful, durable, and perfect for finely grinding herbs like lavender, rosemary, or lemongrass. It has a 13-cup capacity, so I can prepare large batches of candle ingredients in no time.

And I use it all the time in my kitchen, too. Whether I’m prepping veggies, chopping nuts, or making sauces, it’s my forever go-to for fast, consistent results.

👉 You can check it out here

And yes, you can combine ingredients. Citronella, lemon grass and chopped bits of lemon rind are often touted as the best repellents, but a lot has to do with what you have on hand.

Candle Placement

If you’re sitting outdoors on a deck around a table, a common recommendation is to place one repellent candle below the table in the center and another on top of the table in the center. The candle below will keep the mosquitoes away from exposed legs and the candle above will help repel them from going after your face, neck or arms.

A Word About Wicks

All candles have a wick, but you might want to think twice about the wick you use for a mosquito repellent candle. Candle wicks tend to be thin, but a mosquito repellent candle works best with a thick wick. The good news is you don’t have to buy expensive thick wicks.

Just cut strands from a new mop head and you’ll have the perfect sized wick for your mosquito repellent candle.

Forming the Candle

You have a couple of options here. You can pour your wax mixture into a paper cut until the wax hardens and then peel off the paper for a free-standing candle, or you can pour your wax into a metal can or small metal bucket and burn from there.

Another great option I’ve used recently is this set of 8 oz thick glass jars with metal lids. They’re sturdy, reusable, and perfect for both making and storing candles. You get 24 in a pack, and they double as airtight storage containers for spices, powders, and even homemade salves when you’re not using them for candles. Dishwasher safe and tough as nails—definitely worth having around if you plan to make more than a few batches.

Metal buckets and cans are best for those candles you put under the table and the free-standing; paper molded candles usually look best on top of the table.

What’s critical is to center the wick by tying the top to a stick across the top of your mold and fastening a metal nut or washer to the bottom of the wick to keep it down and centered at the bottom.

Mosquito Repellent Candle Formulas

We’re going to start with one of the most popular combinations for a mosquito repellent candle and then move on to some variations.

Soy Wax/Citronella/Lemon Rind

We’re going to use soy wax bits for all of our candles, but you can melt down old candles or use whatever wax you prefer. The wax is not necessarily the key. It’s what you add to the wax that makes this work.

Ingredients:

6 cups of wax – I use these natural, farm-sourced ones from UNOTENA

3 tablespoons of citronella leaves processed to small shreds in a food processor.

2 tablespoons of lemon rind ground to bits in a food processor

Wick from a mop head

Directions:

Grind up your citronella leaves until finely shredded.
Grind up your lemon rings until small bits.
Melt your wax on low heat until clear and turn off the heat.
Add the citronella and lemon rind bits and stir until well blended.
Tie your wick to a stick with a metal nut or washer at the bottom that keeps the wick straight and centered in the mold.
Carefully pour your wax mixture into the mold making sure the wick remains centered.
Let the wax harden (usually 4 to 6 hours)
Remove the paper mold (if that’s what you’re using) or leave in the metal can or small bucket.
Trim the top of the wick from the stick leaving about a ½ inch of wick protruding from the top of the candle.
Pretreat the candle by lighting and allowing some melting wax to pool and get drawn into the wick. This should take a couple of minutes.
All done and ready to repel mosquitoes.

Alternative Herbs

A lot of us have herb gardens but citronella is not a common part of our herb gardens. It’s also rarely hound at garden centers. If you don’t have citronella plants on hand, there are very good alternatives that might be a bit more common.

Lavender/Rosemary/Soy Wax (or other wax)

Lavender is easy to grow and will grow anywhere and we often plant rosemary in the garden and pots. This is another potent combination, and the methodology is the same as the previous formula.

Ingredients:

¼ cup of lavender flowers and leaves

¼ cup of rosemary needles

6 cups of wax

Wick from a mop head

Directions:

Chop the lavender flowers and leaves until coarsely ground.
Chop the rosemary needles until finely ground.
Melt the wax until clear and shut off the heat.
Add the lavender and rosemary mix to the wax and carefully stir until evenly blended.
Center your thick wick using the stick to support the top and a weight attached to the bottom.
Carefully pour your wax mixture into the mold and double check to make sure the wick is still centered.
Let the wax harden for a few hours and remove the paper from the mold or leave in your metal can or small bucket.
Season the wick by burning for a couple of minutes and you’re good to go.

Lemon Grass/Wax and Crayons

This may be the simplest formula, assuming you have lemon grass on hand and some old crayons. There are some arguments that an ingredient in crayons will repel mosquitoes and lemon grass is second to citronella as a mosquito repellent. Here’s the formula and the same process.

Ingredients:

½ cup of lemongrass leaves

1 cup of busted up crayons (any color)

5 cups of wax (any wax)

Directions:

Finely chop the lemon grass
Melt the wax over gentle heat as when melted, add the crayons.
When all wax is melted, shut off the heat and stir in the chopped lemon grass.
Center your wick in the mold and carefully pour in the wax.
Double check to make sure your wick is still centered and let cool for a few hours.
Remove the paper or cardboard from the mold or leave in your can or small bucket.
Prep the wick with a 2-minute burn to draw in some wax and your crayon candle is ready.

When You Need a Faster Fix

Let’s be honest. When bug season hits hard, when the mosquitoes are thick, the ticks are relentless, and every bite turns into a swollen mess—you need something that works right now.

If you don’t have the time (or the gear) to melt wax, prep herbs, and pour molds, there are faster, easier ways to get relief and keep bugs at bay.

One of the best things I’ve added to my homestead is a collection of quick, natural remedies I can make in minutes, without any special tools.

Don’t get me wrong, I love making candles when I have the time and the supplies…

But when I don’t, and the bugs are already biting? These are my go-tos:

🦟 Bug-Off Spray – a strong, plant-based mist that keeps bugs and mosquitoes away without a single chemical

🌿 Anti-Mosquito Salve – rub it into your skin to form a long-lasting, DEET-free barrier bugs hate

🧴 Nature’s Betadine – clean up bites and scrapes with this infection-fighting tincture made only from common backyard plants

🩹 Anti-Itch Natural Band-Aid – ditch the constant scratching with this soothing herbal wrap that cools and calms instantly

🪳 Black Drawing Salve for Boils, Splinters, and Tick Bites – draws out splinters, pus, and even embedded tick heads like nothing else

They’re fast. They’re simple. And they work.

You’ll find all five recipes (and 250+ more!) inside The Forgotten Home Apothecary, written by the world-known american herbalist Nicole Apelian. It’s not just about making salves and tinctures from scratch. It’s about having real protection when the stores are closed, the power’s out, or the only thing standing between you and a full-blown infection is what you can whip up in your kitchen. Once this book is in your hands, no one can take it away. It’s your key to self-reliance, healing, and freedom from a system that benefits from keeping you sick.

And I also managed to get you a personal discount link that’s only available to the first 23 people who claim the offer. It includes a 78% OFF discount plus 3 FREE gifts.

It’s not just about making salves and tinctures from scratch—it’s about having real protection when the stores are closed, the power’s out, or the only thing standing between you and a full-blown infection is what you can whip up in your kitchen.

Does It Really Work?

Yes, it does, but how well it works depends on a variety of factors. Windy days will carry most of the scent away but most mosquitoes can’t navigate in the wind, so that might not be a problem. Another factor is the density of the local mosquito population. If you live next to a lake, pond or swampy area, you may have a significant mosquito population. One solution is to use more repellent candles. These candles are not a 100% solution to mosquitoes, but they certainly do help. If you really want to repel the bugs, try planting many of the plants I listed around your yard, and you’ll have both a natural benefit plus the added protection of mosquito repellent candles.

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