One of our favorite parts of summer is all the fresh fruits and vegetables we have available. But this time, they’re not just for healthy snacking. Go on and have some fun with your lemons, oranges, and limes and make your own lemon lime votive candles to impress your guests this summer. These candles smell good naturally, just like our pretty herbal sachets.

Lemon Lime Votive Candles

Hello! Jane and Sonja here from Sustain My Craft Habit, a DIY, craft, and home decor blog where we share creative nature-inspired projects each week. Thank you so much to Amanda for inviting us to share new craft ideas with you each month here on Crafts by Amanda.

When we saw this simple and natural DIY votive candle idea last summer, we had to give it a try! This fun way to use up those nearly-done candles is sure to be a conversation starter at your next backyard BBQ. Moreover, add a few drops of your favorite essential oils for a lovely scent, or go all-natural and use beeswax to make the candles.

Supplies Needed for these lemon lime votive candles:

• 1 large white paraffin votive candles (or use beeswax or soy melts)
• 1 lemon, lime or orange
• Microwaveable bowl
• Metal spoon, scissors, knife

How to Make Lime and Lemon shell votives:

1. To begin, cut the citrus fruit in half (crosswise).

2. Next, trim off a thin slice of the bottom half of the fruit so that the candle will sit flat on the table when done. Scoop out the center of the cut fruit to create a “citrus bowl”.

4. Remove the wick from the candles and place into center of “citrus bowl”.

5. Then, place the rest of the wax candle in a microwaveable bowl and carefully heat until melted.

6. Finally, pour the melted wax into the citrus bowls with wick positioned vertically in the center. Hold the wick in place for about 30 sec while the wax hardens then leave to cool completely before using.

You’re all done and ready to set the mood with your new citrus shell candles. To keep them fresh for longer place them in a plastic bag in the fridge between uses.

We used these lemon lime votive candles during the summer as a part of our nature-inspired patio-scape at the cottage. However, they’d be perfect for any tablescape year-round.

The new lemon lime votive candles looked lovely alongside a votive candle we upcycled using driftwood. You can also find additional simple DIY ideas in our free guide to creating your own Cozy Patio Oasis.

We hope you enjoy your lemon lime votive candles! For more summer craft inspiration check out these pretty painted drinking glasses and these striped beach luminaries.

Print Project

DIY Citrus Candles

Think beyond the healthy snack with your lemon, limes and oranges. Have some fun with your food and make beautifully natural citrus candles.

Author: Jane Vranic

Supplies

• 1 large white paraffin votive candles or use beeswax or soy melts
• 1 lemon lime or orange
• Microwaveable bowl
• Metal spoon scissors, knife

Instructions

• Begin by cutting the citrus fruit in half (crosswise).
• Next, trim off a thin slice of the bottom half of the fruit so that the candle will sit flat on the table when done. Scoop out the center of the cut fruit to create a “citrus bowl”.
• Then, remove the wick from the candles and place into center of “citrus bowl”.
• Place the rest of the wax candle in a microwaveable bowl and carefully heat until melted.
• Finally, pour the melted wax into the citrus bowls with wick positioned vertically in the center. Hold the wick in place for about 30 sec while the wax hardens then let the candles cool completely before using.