
How to Make a Citronella Mosquito Spray
12 June 2026
How to Make a Citronella Gel Travel Candle
12 June 2026Cosy coffee-scented candles poured into little antique buckets, wonderful for winter and load-shedding evenings.
What you will need
- 1kg candle wax
- Nylon core wick
- Coffee and/or chocolate fragrance
- Small antique buckets (containers)
Method
- Melt the wax gently in a pot on the stove.
- Once melted, add your fragrance oil.
- Position the wick in the bucket and pour in the melted wax right to the top.
- Leave to set. A hole forms in the middle as wax shrinks, this is normal.
- Melt the leftover wax and top up the hole, then leave to cool and set completely.
Find everything you need at The Soap Barn’s candle making supplies.
Tips & variations
Once you have made your coffee candles in antique buckets, here are a few ways to get a great result and put your own spin on it.
- Match your wick to the container width: too small and it tunnels, too large and it smokes.
- Add fragrance at the right temperature (around 60C) so the scent binds into the wax.
- Cure your candles for 24 to 48 hours before lighting so the scent settles and the burn is cleaner.
Make it your own: swap the fragrance for any scent in our range, or add a touch of candle dye for a different look.
You may also like: a Lemongrass Body Butter Candle and a Festive Gel Candle.

