Citronella Mason Jar Candle

We love making candles and this Citronella Mason Jar Candle is one of our favorites. Mason jar crafts are so trendy and the jars are perfect for use outdoors.

The citronella oil in this Citronella Mason Jar Candle really does repel mosquitoes. And even if you don’t have no-see-ums where you live, a handmade Citronella Mason Jar Candle is a pretty decorative touch for outdoor entertaining.

Love candlemaking? We have a video course on Curious that includes this candle! Check out our Course In Candlemaking on Curious.com.

How To Make A Citronella Mason Jar Candle

Materials

Mason jar, 3” diameter
Yaley’s Glass Fill Wax
Pre-waxed wire wick with clip (zinc core), small
Wick keeper
Citronella liquid candle scent
Yellow dye block for candles

Tools

Cutting board
Putty knife
Double boiler
Ladle
Candle making thermometer
Chopstick
Potato peeler
Skewer
Pencil
Scissors
White index card
Kitchen scale
Tablespoon
Paper towels
Ruler

Preparation

Choose your container then choose your wax. We chose a glass container and so we chose glass fill wax. It will adhere to the inside of the jar nicely. Once you have the wax chosen, you can read the wax label to see what kind of wick it requires. Glass fill wax requires a pre-waxed wire wick. Next measure your container diameter to determine what size wick to use. Our jar is 3” in diameter so it will use a small wick. (Even though all the wicks we found are 9” long, they come in small, medium, large, and extra large referring to the diameter.)

Steps

1. Weighing The Wax: To do this, place your jar on the scale and zero it out. (Or write down the weight of the jar to subtract from the weight when filled.) Fill the jar with water and weigh it again. This is approximately how much wax you will need.

Cut the wax into small chunks using the putty knife and cutting board.

Weigh out the wax and add 2-4 ounces more for spillage, shrinkage, and whatever sticks to the bowl.

2. Preparing The Wick: Wash and dry the jar. Use the wick keeper to adhere the bottom of the wick clip to the inside of the jar. Make sure it is centered.

Tie the other end of the wick around a pencil and rest it across the top of the jar.

Here’s a video we made showing how to wick a jar to make a candle. Note that the jar in the video is smaller than a mason jar, so it uses a different sized wick.

3. Melting The Wax and Adding Color & Scent: Melt the wax in a double boiler. Check the temperature so that it does not exceed 175°F. (Be safe. Never walk away from the wax.)

Shave a few carrot curls off the dye block onto the index card using the potato peeler and add to the wax when the wax is 175°F. Stir with chopstick. Drip a few drops of melted wax onto the white index card to see if the color is to your liking. Add more color if desired. Add one tablespoon of the citronella liquid candle scent to the melted wax and stir.

4. Pouring The Wax: Pour the wax into the wicked jar. If your double boiler does not have a pouring spout, use a ladle or handled scoop with a pouring spout. Pour wax up to the point where the jar starts to get smaller at the neck. Recenter the wick. Save the extra wax. Let the candle cool for 30 minutes to an hour until a thick skin forms on top of the candle.

5. Filling The Well: After 30 minutes to an hour a skin will form on top of the candle and the wax will likely have sunken in at the wick making a small crater. (This is totally normal. Wax shrinks as it cools.) Poke 3-5 holes in the top of the candle near the wick all the way to the bottom of the candle using the skewer.

Heat the remaining wax to 170°F and pour the melted wax on top of the candle – up to but not over the initial pour line.

6. Trimming The Wick & Cleaning Off Any Drips: Let the candle cool completely. (We usually wait 24 hours.) Remove the pencil and trim the wick to ¼ inch.

Scrape any drips off the jar and clean glass with Goo-Gone then Windex if needed.

These jar candles make great gifts too. Buy a decorative top like we did at the craft store. So cute! If you have any questions at all, please leave us a comment. We’re here to help!
Happy Crafting,
Jennifer & Kitty

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