DIY “Bug Away” Essential Oil Candles

I LOVE summer, but I do not love all the bugs that come with summer in the Midwest.  Mosquitoes, flies, gnats, …  I can’t stand them, but boy, do they love me.

So you can imagine how incredibly glad I am that I discovered essential oils a few years ago!

 

Now it’s easy to whip up a homemade, all-natural, chemical-free bug spray in minutes or these super cute bug repellent lotion bars.

And these homemade “Bug Away” essential oil candles couldn’t be easier.  It’s really just placing lemons, limes, and rosemary inside a mason jar, topping with water and essential oils.

But wow, are they pretty!  The flickering light that they give off at night is so soothing and relaxing.  You might want to make up a few of these even if you don’t have a bug problem!

 

If you do get a mosquito bite or two, a rash, or other summer-time itchy skin, then here’s my recipe for my favorite anti-itch sticks.  They’re all natural and made with the soothing goodness of essential oils (of course!)  Make them ahead and keep them handy in your herbal first aid kit.  Carry one of these handy sticks around with you while hiking, camping, swimming or just hanging out in your yard this summer.  Just rub over bug bite, and it will start calming skin.  Itch relief in no time.

 

 

keep mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs & insects away from your summer fun with these DIY all-natural "Bug Away" essential oil candles

 

 

Ingredients for homemade bug repellent mason jar candle?

16 or 20 ounce mason jars (or really, whatever size mason jars you have – they’ll pretty much all work)

water

1 lemon

1 lime a few sprigs of rosemary

essential oil (find lots of DIY recipes for  bug-repelling essential oil blends here)

floating candles or tea lights with the metal casing removed

 

how to make essential oil mosquito repellent floating candles in mason jars

 

 

How to make mosquito repellent candles

 

step 1: slice one lemon and one lime into 1/4 inch slices

 

easy to make -- homemade moquito and bug repellent candles for summer using lemons, limes, rosemary, and essential oils in mason jar with floating candle

 

 

step 2:  you can either add the essential oils to the water now

or wait to add the essential oils to each mason jar later after you’re poured in the water

either way seems to work fine

You want to add about 10 drops of essential oil to each 16-20 oz mason jar.  Since I was making three candles, I added 30 drops of essential oil to about 5 cups of water.

 

Here are some essential oils that are great at keeping away mosquitoes, flies, gnats, no see ums, and other bug and insects.

 

Use one oil, use one of the blend recipes below, or make your own combination.

 

bug repellent essential oil blend #1

20 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil

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10 drops geranium essential oil

 

bug repellent essential oil blend #2

15 drops lemongrass essential oil

7 drops lavender essential oil

7 drops geranium essential oil

 

bug repellent essential oil blend #3

15 drops citronella essential oil

7 drops lavender essential oil

7 drops spearmint essential oil

 

bug repellent essential oil blend #4

12 drops eucalyptus essential oil

12 drops lavender essential oil

6 drops spearmint essential oil

 

keep mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs & insects away from your summer fun with these DIY all-natural "Bug Away" essential oil candles

 

 

step 3:  Now you start building your candles – start by placing a sprig or two or rosemary in each mason jar

 

simple to make essential oil bug repellent candles - great natural way to repel mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and other bugs and insects -- plus the floating candles give off a cozy magical light that makes everyone feel relaxed on warm summer nights

 

 

step 4:  then layer in two slices of lime and two slices of lemon, placing some slices flat in the jar and others standing upright

 

keep mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs & insects away from your summer fun with these DIY all-natural "Bug Away" essential oil candles

 

 

step 5:  fill jars with water, leaving about 1 inch at the top of the jars for the candles

 

diy lemon, lime, rosemary citronella essential oil floating candles in mason jars for keeping away mosquitoes, flies, gnats, no see ums, and other bugs in summer

 

 

step 6:  place a candle in each jar and light – that’s it.  Super easy, beautiful, and best of all, they keep the bugs away!

 

ban the bugs using citronella and other essential oils in these natural homemade luminary candles

keep mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs & insects away from your summer fun with these DIY all-natural "Bug Away" essential oil candles

 

How to use mosquito repellent candles?

  • be sure to use standard candle safety — Place jars on a sturdy surface where they won’t get knocked over, make sure that they’re far enough away from drapes, fabrics and other flammable things, and make sure that young kiddos and pets can’t reach them
  • set them outside
  • light them
  • replace candles as needed — have extras on hand.  Each candle may only last an hour or two.
  • fruit/rosemary/water should last for a couple days.  When using a second night, I refresh the bug repelling power by adding a few more drops of essential oil to each jar.
  • After 2-3 days when the lemons and limes have wilted, I dump out the jars, wash them up, and make fresh candles.  Super simple!

 

Looking for more essential oil recipes for summer?  Find my 40 favorite summer DIY recipes here – sunscreen, after-sun spray, cooling spray, deodorant, diffuser blends, room sprays, rollerballs, bug spray, essential oils for travel, and more.  Lots of easy summer essential oil recipes with step-by-step instructions and free printables.

40 favorite essential oil recipes for summer - homemade sunscreen, after-sun spray, cooling spray, DIY deodorant, diffuser blends, summer room sprays, rollerball recipes, bug spray, essential oils for travel, and more. Lots of easy summer essential oil recipes with step-by-step instructions and free printables. #essentialoilrecipes #essentialoilDIY #essentialoildiffuser #essentialoiluses

 

here are a few other essential oil posts that I think you’ll like:

DIY Bug Spray That Really Works!

DIY Anti-Itch Stick Recipe {made with essential oil}

Homemade Essential Oil Sunscreen {water resistant, SPF 30+, rubs in completely, and not sticky or overly greasy}

Homemade Peppermint Cooling Spray

DIY Essential Oil Bug Repellent Lotion Bars Recipe {non greasy}

15 Summer Room Spray Recipes to Freshen Your Home

After Sun Spray {made with essential oils}

25+ Best Summer Diffuser Blends

DIY Dusting Powder Recipe with Essential Oils

Be Safe- Essential Oils and the Sun

DIY Cooling Peppermint Foot Cream {to refresh tired feet}

DIY Stinky Shoe Spray Recipe

Foaming Hand Soap in 21 Spring & Summer Scents

 

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keep mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs & insects away from your summer fun with these DIY all-natural "Bug Away" essential oil candles

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Sarah Lewis

A little thing about me: I 💙 essential oils. I also love using my background in research to help people learn more about essential oils and all the wonderful ways they can be used. I share DIY recipes for natural cleaners that really work, non-toxic beauty solutions, and holistic wellness. My essential oil recipes, info, and tips have been viewed more than 20 million times. I've been featured on MindBodyGreen, Health & Natural Living, All Natural Ideas, This Natural Home, Natural Living Ideas, and Passion for Savings.
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