NATURAL WAXLESS DIY CITRUS PEEL CANDLES
We all love the romantic, soft warm glow of candles..However many regular scented candles include poisonus synthetic fragrances and dyes to make them smell and look attractive.
Even more disturbing they are manufactured from parrafin wax, that contains toluene and benzene (both known carcinogens) Once lit however, the seemingly harmless flickering candles begin to emit highly toxic fumes, similar to diesel fumes. These candles are considered a large source of indoor air pollution and can affect the respiratory system.
A good alternative is to buy natural beeswax candles, either unscented or fragranced with organic essential oi
ls..Or even better try these adorable little waxless citrus candles for change.Yes, you really can craft a beautifuly fragrant candle out of the shell of a fresh piece of fruit and a little olive oil.They are super easy to make, cost pennies, only use natural organic ingredients found in your kitchen and are much healthier and environmentally friendly than most shop bought candles.
These rustic and homey candles are simply beautiful and the subtle burnt citrus aroma smells amazing. They are great to use for outdoor garden parties or a cozy dinner party.
So, lets get started! Grab a piece of your favourite citrus fruit and start creating your own citrus candles, you can use orange, grapefruit, lemon or lime or a mixture if you like.
YOU WILL NEED
Chosen citrus fruit
Organic Olive Oil
Saucer, bowl, glass or jar to stand your candle on
Lighter/Matches
METHOD
Place your chosen citrus fruit on a cutting board and cut it in half through the middle. The top half of the fruit will be used to make the bowl of the candle. Set aside the bottom half of the fruit for later use.
Using your thumb, gently separate the segments of fruit from the peel. Being very careful to leave the centre stem intact, lift out the fruit segments and put them in a bowl for a healthy snack, or wrap them up and put them in the fridge for later.You will be left with a beautiful and leak-proof citrus peel bowl which has it’s own natural “wick” extending upwards from the centre.
Fill the bowl of the citrus fruit three-quarters full with cooking oil, then
using a teaspoon, drizzle the oil over the wick until it is thoroughly soaked. Let the candle sit for 30 minutes to soak in the oil before lighting.
Voila thats it! It couldn’t get any simpler than that.
If you accidentally remove the centre white stem, grab another piece of fruit and try again! If you are planning on making a lot of these decorative and rustic homemade candles, you may want to serve a fruit salad for dinner or make a jug of freshly squeezed juice for breakfast.
Now all you need to do is light your all natural candles, sit back and enjoy the zesty aromatic fruity scents as they fill your home with their zingy fresh aromas and dazzle your friends and family with your crafty ingenuity. I often like to use the bottom half of the citrus fruit for a lid. This can be done by taking the part of the fruit that you set a side and simply hollowing out the shell using a spoon and then cut your chosen design into the botto
m of the hollowed out cup with a knife. You can get as creative as you like with the lids and even use mini cookie cutters to produce stars and hearts etc.If your candle does not sit level, use a small piece of blue tac or modelling clay hidden underneath the bowl to prop it up. Balance bumpy and uneven lemons and limes on the rims of small glasses or jars.
NOTE: You can also enhance the refreshing and natural smell of the candles by adding a few drops of citrus scented essential oils. Mix and match different oils to create a scent that is unique to your preferences. I love the calming and floral scent of lavender. It smells absolutely amazing blended with a few drops of orange essential oil.
Enjoy getting fruity in the kitchen, who knows what might happen! xx