Hey Folks!

With Halloween approaching we have candles on the mind! However, conventional bought candles can often have synthetics and toxins, that when burned, leak into the air. Consumers also have to be weary of soy based candles. Farmers in the rain forest are destroying huge plots of land in order to plant soy. It’s really sad, but the fact is that most soy is not sustainable and is huge cause to the deforestation of the rainforest. This wax-less candle is inexpensive to make, especially if you live somewhere that has a citrus tree nearby because you can just pick a fruit from a tree! 

Things you will need:

• A Citrus Fruit, Such as: An Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, etc.
• Knife
• Lighter 
• Any Type of Vegetable Oil - Such As Olive

Directions

Step 1: Cut in Half and Remove the Middle

Cut your fruit in half and remove the guts of the fruit! When removing make sure you leave the middle stem-like portion intact, as this will act as a wick. Start peeling the citrus fruit out beginning from the outside. There are two ways to do this: One, cutting it right in half and hollowing out the guts. Two, just cut the the outside of the orange, all the way around, then peel the outside out. This way is best! 

Step 2: Fill it!

This step is easy! All you have to do is fill your hollowed-out fruit with your choice of oil. Fill it either just below the rim, or just below the wick-like stem. Set aside for 5-10 minutes to allow the olive oil to soak into the stem. If you'd like to scent your candle, you can add a few drops of essential oils. 

Step 3: Light it Up!

I suggest using a lighter for this step. I tried matches, and it did not work. You need to hold the flame over it for 15-30 seconds for the initial light.  

Step 4: (Optional)

Hollow out the other side of the fruit, but this time, take a sharp knife and cut a big opening (any shape) in the center where the stem would be. You can then use this as a lid to your candle. You can also decorate it!  See ideas below.

There are many ways to enjoy your candle! 

If you choose to use just use the base of the citrus fruit candle, there are many ways to decorate your home! These little guys will float on water, so you can use them to make an interesting center piece, or use them in the bath! This is also the perfect candle to use in your Jack O' Lantern this Halloween! 

Heres something really cool to try! You can actually use these to make little Jack O' Lanterns! I attempted to make a kitty face! Perhaps your skills are better than mine?

You can also use the other half of your orange as a cover to create some mood lighting. For this use, you could scent your candle using Pure Essential Oils! For the Fall you can try adding some cinnamon essential oil, or an autumn blend that you like! Make sure to avoid "fragrance" as those often contain synthetics and other toxins that can be harmful to breathe in! We decided to poke holes in the top of ours using a toothpick, but you could really do anything, or leave it simple! 

Use #organicforeveryone to show us your creation!

Hope you have a Happy Halloween!

Love,

Nikki