Make A Candle Jar To Keep Away The Bugs


Jars with rosemary, citrus fruit and oils

When relaxing outside, there is nothing worse than having to share your drink with an angry wasp or being nibbled by mosquitoes. Our friends at Dobbies have the solution, a brilliant – and natural – way to keep those bugs at bay this summertime – and you can make them at home!

You will need:

  • Kilner glass jars
  • Fresh lemons
  • Fresh limes
  • Water
  • Fresh sprigs of rosemary
  • Essential oils: cedarwood, lavender, lemon and thieves
  • Floating tealight candles

Individual items available from Dobbies Garden Centres – Glazed Terracotta Bowl £6; Kilner Preserve Jar (0.5ltr) £3.49; Kilner Preserve Jar (1ltr) £3.99; Era Dimpled Pot (13.5cm) £4.99; Rosemary £4.99, 3 for £12.

To make:

  1. Gather everything you need and remove the lids on the kilner jars. Cut the lemons and limes into slices.
  2. Fill the jars three-quarters full with water. To each one add 2 slices of lemon, 2 of lime, 2 sprigs of rosemary and 10 drops of each essential oil (40 in total).
  3. Top up with more water if needed. Float a tealight on the top, then light it to warm the water and release the aroma of the oils.
  4. Place on tables near to where you will be sitting to keep the bugs away! Make fresh jars every 2-3 days.

For more seasonal advice, recipes and helpful “how to’s”, visit Dobbies.com.

Allison Hay

I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.