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Lemon Rosemary Floating Mosquito Repellent Candles DIY

How to make floating mosquito repellent candles with essential oils that repel mosquitos. They’re a great solution to natural mosquito repellent candles!

As the days begin to stretch, the dusk slowly settles in, and the evening stars seem to appear one by one in the night sky. A familiar chorus of crickets chirping begins again, and fireflies dance in the twilight. 

How can we resist their song and dance? 

Summer evenings beckon us to linger outdoors longer, laying in the cool green grass counting the stars and catching fireflies to simply watch them glow in the cup of hands before releasing them back to the sky. Or to share a meal with friends, a glass of wine, and stories of past summers and travels ahead. 

A summer evening outdoors is nothing but bliss until the mosquito slapping begins. 

Unfortunately, the remedies to keep these uninvited guests away can be as bad as the problems they create. From spraying yourself with sticky bug spray to wearing a bracelet similar to that of a flea collar to attaching a patch to your skin to repel mosquitoes, each comes with questionable ingredients and potential health risks.

As for citronella candles that have become more and more popular each year, many are also laden with chemicals instead of simple natural ingredients that are, in my experience, more effective at keeping these pests away. 

And I imagine that’s what brings you here – a simple yet very effective solution to repel mosquitoes. 

These lemon rosemary floating mosquito repellent candles are just the thing to keep bugs at bay and enjoy the outdoors without their relentless attention. 

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How Do Mosquito Repellent Candles Work?

I was just as determined as you are to find a better, natural alternative to repel mosquitoes. A combination of the best herbs, fruits, plants, and essential oils derived from such is key to solving the problem. 

You see, plants send signals to attract insects that benefit the plant while outputting signals that also keep other insects away. This natural phenomenon is very effective because insects rely on smell and taste to locate their next meal. 

Take lemongrass, for example; it is a known plant that repels mosquitoes. When we plant lemongrass around our patios or plant it in pots for our porches, it deters mosquitoes from entering those spaces. 

The same can be achieved by using lemongrass essential oil made from the plant’s stems and leaves in a luminaire or candle recipe. Or both, as in the case of floating mosquito repellant candles. As the essential oil in the water and candle wax is heated, the aroma of lemongrass masks other smells that mosquitoes are attracted to and drives them away. 

Related To: Why You Need Candle Tools

What Plants Repel Mosquitoes? 

When it comes to plants that repel mosquitoes, most fall into the herbal category. This is yet another reason why I love growing an herb garden and discovering new herb uses. Many also repel common pests such as ants, flies, gnats, and chiggers. 

Other plants include citrus fruits with a high compound of limonene. This natural ingredient found in the rind of citrus fruit deters insects such as flies, fleas, and mosquitoes. 

So, not only can we keep the most annoying pest of all away, but we can also sit back and relax outdoors in a bite-free zone with the help of these plants that repel insects. 

Mosquito Repelling Plants and Fruits:

• Lemongrass
• Eucalyptus 
• Lemon balm
• Sage
• Peppermint
• Citronella
• Rosemary
• Basil
• Lemons
• Lavender
• Orange
• Cedarwood
• Lime
• Spearmint

Did you know you can find printable essential oil blend charts and more in the Simple Living Library?

How Do We Use These To Make Floating Mosquito Repellent Candles?

We’ll use two methods to make floating mosquito repellent candles with the help of these insect-repelling plants. Both are an effective natural solution.

First, let’s start with citronella candles that not only work but also help you create a gorgeous centerpiece of floating lemon slices, rosemary sprigs, and candlelight!

DIY Mosquito Repellent Floating Candles

These mosquito-repellant floating candles are just the thing to keep bugs at bay and allow you to enjoy the outdoors without their relentless attention. They are fairly straightforward to make, but if this is your first time making a candle, see our beginner candle making guide for a handful of invaluable tips!  

How to Make Mosquito Repellent Floating Candles:

Before you begin, you may want to line your work area with parchment paper to catch any drips or overpours and slip on a cross back arpon. 

1. Prep the tart tins for candles by pressing the metal tab of a candle wick into a glue dot while still on the roll. Carefully pull the wick and glue dot from the roll and place it into the center base of one tart tin. Repeat until you have prepped all six tins. 

(I don’t recommend using a glue gun or wick sticker tab to hold the wick in place, in this instance, because we want to remove the candle from the tins after curing.) 

2. Now that you’ve prepped the tins, use a kitchen scale to measure .60 pounds of hardy soy wax flakes designed for candle tarts, melts, and floating candles.

Pour the wax into a candle-melting pitcher and place it inside a saucepan filled with about 2 inches of water. Use the double boiler method to heat on low heat with a gentle simmer at most. 

3.  Stir slowly yet often, and then remove the pitcher from the heat immediately after melting. It’s best to add essential oil at the lowest possible temperature before you pour. Use a no-touch thermometer to monitor the temperature. 140°F to 150°F works well; just make sure to stir the oil into the wax for a good two minutes before pouring. 

Once it’s ready, pour the wax into each tart tin. Allow the wax to cool and harden for several hours before popping the floating candles out. Trim their wicks to ¼ inch with a wick trimmer.

Now, your citronella candles are ready to be used to make a floating candle in the next step! You’ll find they’re the perfect addition to any outdoor space and summer dining alfresco. 

How to Make Floating Mosquito Repellent Candles:

With a combination of fresh fruit, herbs, and essential oils that are known to repel mosquitoes, you can create equally effective and beautiful floating candle centerpieces for your summer activities outdoors.

Step 1:

Choose a citrus fruit from the list above and slice it. I chose lemon because I love the smell of it, and its bright yellow color looks stunning in contrast to the green herbs. You can choose more than one fruit, but one is all you need.

Step 2:

Next, choose an insect-repelling herb from the list above. I snipped a few sprigs of rosemary from my herb garden. If you don’t have an herb garden, AmazonFresh can deliver fresh rosemary to your door for less than two bucks! 

Step 3:

Add your sliced fruit and fresh herbs to a tall glass vase; this set of three works wonderfully, or wide-mouth mason jars work as well. Fill your containers three-fourths full of warm water. 

Step 4:

Select essential oils made from the list of plants and fruits above. You’ll need 10 drops for mason jars and 10 to 20 drops for floating candle vases since they hold more water.

I selected a beautiful blend of essential oils. It starts with a tart citrus aroma, followed by a sweet mint balanced with herbal notes.

• 8 drops lemongrass
• 2 drops spearmint
• 6 drops rosemary
• 4 drops sage

Follow my lead and add this to the water in the vase or mix it up with essential oils you have on hand. 

Step 5: 

Last, carefully add a floating candle or two on top of the water. Make sure no rosemary touches the wick, and don’t let the wick get wet. You’ll have trouble lighting it if it gets wet. 

For this step, you can either make your own using the instructions above or purchase natural soy insect-repelling floating candles.

Either way, you’ll enjoy the tart lemon, minty, yet freshly herbal scent of these natural mosquito repellent candles. Don’t miss my tips below for creative ways to reuse floating candles.

Related To: DIY Terracotta Candles

Ways To Use Floating Candle Centerpieces Again:  

When you’ve finished using a floating candle centerpiece, don’t toss everything. Remove the candle once it’s cooled, pat dry it with a towel, trim the wick to ¼ an inch, and save it to use again. You can then use the remaining ingredients in a few different ways. 

1. Simmering Stovetop Potpourri

Make a simple simmering stovetop potpourri to fill your entire home with fresh summer scents. Pour everything but the floating candle into a medium stockpot. (I have an old antique pot I picked up at an antique store for a dollar that I use for these.) 

Add more water as needed to nearly fill the pot and a dash of vanilla extract if you like, bring it to a simmer, and simmer the potpourri for up to 4 hours, adding an additional 1/2 cup of water every half hour as needed.

2. Vinegar Cleaner

Make a classic all-purpose vinegar cleaner. Using a funnel, pour four ounces of the floating candle water into an eight-ounce glass spray bottle. Fill the remaining with distilled white vinegar. 

Place the spray nozzle on the bottle, and with the spray nozzle turned off, shake well to combine. Use this DIY all-purpose cleaner for cleaning tile, mirrors, windows, doorknobs, inside the refrigerator, toys, sinks, and more. (Just steer clear of porous surfaces such as granite. Use a natural alcohol-based cleaning spray instead for those types of surfaces.) 

3. Face Steam

Yep, you can use the essential oil infused water, herbs, and citrus slices to make a face steam and enjoy the relaxing and cleansing benefits!

Heat the remaining ingredients of this floating candle centerpiece, sans the candle, over the stovetop, adding water as needed until you have 2 to 3 cups. Bring it to a soft simmer and stir for three minutes. 

Remove it from heat and pour the contents of your face steam into a large bowl. Allow it to cool until the steam is warm to your hand. 

Drape a medium-sized towel over your head to create a tent. Then lower your face into the face steam. Stopping at about 8 to 12 inches from the bowl. Increase the distance from the steam as needed for your comfort by raising your head and steam for no more than 10 minutes. 

I think you’ll agree that these floating mosquito repellent candles made with fresh lemon slices, rosemary sprigs, DIY citronella candles, and the perfect blend of insect-repelling essential oils are both gorgeous and effective. 

From their simplicity to make, all-natural ingredients, and just plain prettiness, these floating candles are the just thing you need when the summer season returns and mosquitoes strike again!