DIY Tiki Torch For Outdoor Ambience

Learn about this easy tiki torch wine bottle craft for your patio, deck, or outdoor porch. It's a pretty tabletop decor piece that you can fill with citronella oil to help keep the bugs at bay.

Tiki torches with citronella oil are popular for deterring bugs, especially mosquitos outdoors during the hot summer months. We have some large torches that you can push into the ground but did you know that you can make some from recycled wine bottles? They are super cute on a table on your patio, deck, or porch.

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My husband received these cute small wine bottles for a company event. I thought that they'd be the perfect size for a tabletop tiki torch.

I purchased a simple wine bottle torch kit. However, some people make their own with a copper coupling piece and plumber's teflon tape. You still have to buy a tiki replacement wick and fuel no matter which route you take.

How to Make a Tiki Torch Wine Bottle

After cleaning the bottles pour in some torch fuel about 3/4 of the way up.

Next, add the rubber washers to one side of the brass fitting. This will help hold the wick in place.

Measure how long you need the wick to be and cut it off about 1/4-1/2 inch from the top of the brass holder. Then place it into the mouth of the bottle and make sure that it fits snuggly in place.

Finally, attach the brass caps to the side of the bottle with the chain and hook. These are used to snuff out the flame.

DIY Tiki Torch Tips

• You need to let the wicks absorb the oil for a little while before lighting.
• You may need to fill the bottle most of the way. However, just know that the wick will displace some of the oil so the amount of torch fluid needed will be less than a full bottle.
• The manufacturer also suggests adding a few drops of oil to the top before lighting.
• If you want to make sure that the brass holder fits tightly so that it won't come off if the bottle is accidentally knocked over, play around with the rubber washers to get a good fit.
• We are using this tiki torch outdoors. However, please keep safety in mind and keep the flame a safe distance from anything flammable.

Even though these were made with small wine bottles the same can be created with standard 750ml wine bottles. In fact, you could probably make them with an empty bourbon bottle or other liquor bottles too.

I chose a tiki torch fuel that has citronella oil in it hoping to keep the bugs away but you can use any kind of tiki torch fluid. In fact, I've heard of people making their own homemade recipe using isopropyl alcohol, distilled water, and fragrance. After all, just the glow of the flame and the bottle creates a nice ambiance all on its own.

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DIY Wine Bottle Tiki Torch

Enjoy this easy homemade tiki torch made with small wine bottles to enjoy outdoors on your patio or porch this season.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Active Time30 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Course: DIY Projects

Yield: 2

Author: Patti Estep

Equipment

• Scissors

Materials

• Empty wine bottles
• Wine bottle torch kit
• Tiki torch fuel with citronella oil

Instructions

• Clean the wine bottles and remove labels.
• Place rubber washers on one side the brass wick holders to fit the bottle snugly.
• Place the wick inside the holder.
• Fill the bottle with torch fuel close to the top about 3/4 of the way, leaving room for the wick as it will displace some of the fuel.
• Measure the correct length to fit the bottle and trim about 1/4- 1/2 inch from the top of the brass holder.
• Press in the wick holder with the wick into the mouth of the bottle and make sure it fits tightly.
• Wait for 1 hour to let the wick fill with the fuel.
• Set the tiki torch somewhere away from anything flammable.

Notes

You may want to add a few drops of fuel directly to the top of the wick.

Wait about 30 minutes for the wick to fill with oil before lighting.