Deck/patio season is upon us! Many of us find ourselves gathering with friends and family in our outdoor spaces only to be met with uninvited guests of the flying, buzzing, and biting variety. Enter this semi-homemade Citronella candle.

Let’s face it, many of us are just too busy to create a full-on DIY or simply just don’t have the time or desire to do it. Creating a DIY summer solution does not have to be a time (or money) consuming project. Try this semi-homemade summer hack by using essential oils incorporated into an unscented candle!

There are a few options for making this Citronella outdoor candle. The simplest method is to take any unscented candle and add 2-3 drops of Citronella essential oil on the wick of the candle. Wait 24 hours until the wick has absorbed the oil before using the candle. You can also make candles from scratch by adding the oil to melted wax or by saturating the wick in Citronella just before pouring the candle. The wick method does use less oil, but many people like the scent of the candle.

Remember you can always combine a few other oils that bugs don’t like to create your own repellent sanctuary! Our favorites to pair with the Citronella are Lavender, Lemongrass, and Eucalyptus Citriodora (Lemon Eucalyptus).  Making a few of these last-minute Citronella candles will not only deter flying and biting pests, the smell of pure essential oils is so pleasant it will only add to the ambiance.