You make a citronella candle like any container candle, with three changes: a harder wax that copes with outdoor heat, a wide and stable container, and several wicks. It gives a patio that summer smell. Against mosquitoes it helps a little and only at close range, so it pays to know what to expect, and what not to promise if you sell it.
In 30 seconds
- Wax: paraffin 56-58, or half paraffin and half container soy. Soy alone and coconut soften in the sun.
- Citronella fragrance at 5-8 % of the wax weight. For 800 g of wax, that is 40-64 g.
- A wide, non-porous container (tin, metal bucket, glazed pot). Above 9 cm across, two or three wicks set 5-6 cm apart.
- Real repellent effect: limited and local. In one study, citronella candles repelled 14 % of mosquitoes indoors.
- If you sell it, sell it as a scented candle. Claiming it "repels mosquitoes" turns it into a biocide in the eyes of the law.
For this guide, start with citronella fragrance that fit the final application, then validate the complete formula in a small test before scaling.
What you need
| Item | What to use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wax | Paraffin 56-58 on its own or 50/50 with BPF soy container wax | A sunny patio easily goes above 35 °C. Paraffin 56-58 stays firm; container soy on its own can soften, and our coconut wax melts at 33-35 °C. |
| Fragrance | Citronella fragrance | Citrus and herbal, made for outdoor candles. Supplier's load: 5-8 %. |
| Wicks | ECO or cotton wicks by diameter range | A wide container needs several wicks to melt the whole surface. |
| Centring | Wick holder | With two or three wicks, keeping them straight and properly spaced is half the job. |
| Container | Tin, metal bucket or glazed pot | Stable, heat-resistant and non-porous. |
| Tools | Scale, thermometer, double boiler | Fragrance is weighed in grams, not guessed. |
Step-by-step recipe
This recipe is for a tin about 12 cm across, filled to about 8 cm: roughly 800 g of wax. For a different container, keep the same ratio.
- Prepare the container. Clean and dry. With a glazed pot, cover the drainage hole from the inside with aluminium tape and pour a thin layer of wax; let it set before you carry on.
- Fix the wicks. Two wicks from the 6-7 cm range, 5-6 cm apart, stuck to the bottom with a drop of wax. Hold them at the top with the wick holder so they stay straight.
- Melt the wax. In a double boiler, up to about 75 °C, stirring now and then.
- Add the fragrance. 56 g of Citronella fragrance (7 % of 800 g). Stir gently for 2 minutes so it blends in fully.
- Pour. At about 65 °C, slowly and down one side, so you do not trap air bubbles.
- Cool away from draughts. If a sinkhole forms around the wicks, top it up with a second pour of the same blend.
- Let it set and trim. Wait until the candle is completely cool and solid, trim the wicks to about 5 mm and keep it lidded until use.
How much fragrance for each size
| Wax | At 5 % | At 7 % | At 8 % (recommended maximum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 g | 20 g | 28 g | 32 g |
| 800 g | 40 g | 56 g | 64 g |
| 1,500 g | 75 g | 105 g | 120 g |
More fragrance does not mean more effect on mosquitoes. It means soot, sweating and a candle that may exceed its safety limits. For the detailed maths, see how to calculate the exact amount of wax and fragrance. If you use citronella essential oil instead of a candle fragrance, work from its own safety data sheet and IFRA certificate: the limits are not the same.
Container and wicks for outdoor use
Outdoors you get wind, sun and uneven surfaces. So:
- Wide beats tall. A large melt pool releases more scent, and a low, wide container is harder to knock over.
- Several wicks. Our wicks are sold by diameter range, from 4-5 to 8-9 cm. Above 9 cm, use two or three wicks set 5-6 cm apart.
- Free rim. Leave 2-3 cm of container above the wax: it works as a windbreak and keeps the flame steady.
- Nothing porous. Unglazed terracotta soaks up wax and fragrance and sweats on the outside. If you like the plant-pot look, put a tin inside it.
Do citronella candles really keep mosquitoes away?
A little, and only up close. In a study published in the Journal of Vector Ecology (Müller et al., 2009), citronella candles repelled 14 % of mosquitoes indoors, compared with 68 % for citronella diffusers. Outdoors, even with diffusers, citronella's effect at 6 metres dropped to 22 %. Add wind and the scent disperses even faster.
In other words: a citronella candle sets a summer mood and may bother the mosquitoes right next to it. It does not replace a screen, a fan, or emptying standing water from saucers and buckets, which is where they breed.
In the EU, a product presented as having the function of repelling insects is a biocidal product (product type 19, repellents) under Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, and it can only be sold with the corresponding authorisations. Labelling your candle as "anti-mosquito" or "repellent", or saying it "protects against bites", takes it out of scented-candle territory. Present it as what it is: a scented candle with a citronella fragrance. Like any scented candle, it also needs CLP labelling based on the fragrance's safety data sheet; see the rules for selling candles and scented wax.
Outdoor safety
- Place it on a flat, stable, non-flammable surface, away from awnings, curtains, parasols, dry plants and cushions.
- Shelter it from strong wind: the flame grows, smokes and melts the wax unevenly.
- Never leave it burning unattended or within reach of children or pets.
- Do not move it while the wax is liquid. A tin with 800 g of molten wax is heavy and hot.
- Put it out with a snuffer or by covering it. Never with water: hot wax spatters.
- Afterwards, store it lidded and in the shade. Midday sun softens and dirties the surface even when it is not lit.
Patio season starts in spring, so build production and burn testing into your plan. Burn test outdoors, where the candle will actually be used. Citronella fragrance comes in 60 ml, 250 ml and 1,000 ml, and paraffin 56-58 in sizes from 1 kg to 510 kg with volume pricing. For orders over 500 kg or IFRA and SDS documents, write to contacto@naturcera.com.
Frequently asked questions
Do citronella candles work against mosquitoes?
Only slightly and only up close. In one published study they repelled 14 % of mosquitoes indoors. Use them for the mood and the scent, not as protection.
How much citronella fragrance goes into a candle?
5 to 8 % of the wax weight, according to the data sheet for our Citronella fragrance. For 800 g of wax, between 40 and 64 g.
Can I make one in a terracotta pot?
Only if it is glazed, or if you put a tin inside. Unglazed terracotta is porous: it absorbs wax and fragrance and sweats on the outside. Always seal the drainage hole.
Can I use soy wax on its own?
You can, but it is soft and softens further in direct sun. For outdoor use, blend it 50/50 with paraffin 56-58, or keep the candle in the shade.
Can I burn it indoors?
Yes, as a scented candle, although the scent is strong for small rooms. Ventilate and never leave it unattended.
Materials for this project
For this guide, start with citronella fragrance that fit the final application, then validate the complete formula in a small test before scaling.
