DIY Mosquito Candles

It's summer in Texas. Yes, already. Summer in Texas means a number of things--mostly, very hot things--but it unquestionably means the return of the mosquitos. En masse. We're not big fans of bug spray around here (too many weird chemicals), but, speaking as someone who got West Nile Disease last year, I'm not a big fan of mosquitos either.

Citronella candles haven't exactly been my favorite thing either--until I realized that I could make them easily, and could control their level of, well, stinkiness. The Citronella candles that are often found at the store are just too odorous for me, I've been known to develop headaches from being around them for too long. Not into it. However, the homemade candles are the perfect solution to that problem.

By controlling the amount of Citronella oil that I put in each candle, I am able to control the amount of fumey headache that is produced. It seems to me, that after burning these candles for quite some time, that it may not be the Citronella oil at all that bothers me, but another additive in scented candles. Which is even more gross, tbh.

Supplies
   Wax (I used some left over wax from another candle-making project)
   Small Saucepan
   A heatproof container for melting wax
   Wicks
   Citronella oil
   Stir stick
   Thermometer
   Old glass jars or decorative tin cans

Instructions

1. Clean out your jars and tin cans and dry completely. Set aside.
2. Put your pot on the stove with some water and your other heatproof container inside of it.
3. Attach your wick bases to the bottom center of your jars and tins--you can do this by melting a small amount of wax and using it as an adhesive or if your wick is uncoated, by tying one end of the wick to something metal, like a washer (I do the latter). 
4. When the water is 140 degrees, put your wax into the heatproof container. Stir every once in a while as it starts to melt.
5. When all the wax is melted to an even liquid (the consistency of olive oil), add a few drops of citronella oil and stir (about one drop for a small candle, two to three for larger ones). Adding more will create a stronger scent, but will also make your candle top fall. 
6. Remove the container from the saucepan and pour wax into your containers, leaving about a half inch of wick exposed.
7. Let cool. Decorate with fabric or twine if giving as a gift.