DIY Orange Candles

It's trash to treasure with these DIY Orange Candles that make use of the peels to create lovely candles for your tablescape. They are perfect for adding a little natural beauty to your decor and you can even use a little essential oil to add extra fragrance.

Homemade scented candles with essential oils are so easy to make. They smell wonderful and don't cost a lot to make. I've made many as gifts or favors, with small tins.

For something a little different, I tried using orange rinds to create natural candles for our dining table. I really love the bright fresh, natural look, and the smell of citrus, so I thought these would be perfect for a bit of fragrant decor.

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How to Make an Orange Peel Candle

Step 1. Slice the oranges in half with the stem side up. Then use a spoon or small knife to carefully peel away all of the fruit from the rind leaving the white pith intact.

Step 2. Use a double-boiler to melt the wax. I have a candle pitcher that I place in a saucepan of simmering water to melt the wax, but you can use an empty coffee can or juice can instead. I've also read that some people use the microwave but I haven't tried that process.

Step 3. Once melted, let the wax cool slightly, for just a minute or two before adding the essential oils. Stir well.

Step 4. Pour the wax into the empty rinds with a wick. Use a straw to hold the wick in place, by cutting a small slit in the middle of the straw. Then set the straw across the top of the orange rind and nestle the wick into the slit. You could also use plastic chopsticks or try long clothespins instead of a straw.

Step 5. Once the wax hardens, discard the straw and clip the wick down to about 1/2 inch.

Don't they look pretty on the table with just a few flowers and a simple bouquet?

How Long Will These Candles Burn?

They should burn for about 8 -10 hours depending on how big the orange is and how high you fill them. Certainly enough time to last for the evening. You could blow them out and re-use them during the week but the rinds will eventually break down and start to deteriorate.

There's something about the beauty of nature that I really love and I plan to try this idea again with other produce or natural elements. I'm thinking, other types of citrus, coconuts, or maybe something in the gourd family.

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