The Summer months are well and truly here and with the warmer weather they bring lovely long evenings to enjoy. What better way to celebrate these than with barbecues, garden drinks with friends or just spending time catching up on your gardening!  A perfect way to add light and decoration to your Summer evenings are to use a variety of candles and lanterns. These are both extremely practical and bring a delightful ambiance and pretty decor to your surroundings. Another useful benefit of outdoor candles is that they can help keep the flying pests away from you and your food. Oil of citronella is used in candles to deter insects. It is an all-natural insect repellent made from distilled oils from the Asian grass plant, a species of lemongrass. The main components in the oil are citronellol, citronellal and geraniol. These all act together to repel the insect rather than cause it any harm, so good news all round! The oil has a powerful citrus scent, which is a pleasure to use whilst keeping the insects at bay.

There are lots of ways to use candles to decorate and add light to your garden. For example, tea lights placed on pathways or in floral water bowls make for gorgeous decorative pieces. Lanterns and chimeneas add a sense of occasion and evoke a lovely relaxing ambiance.

At The Candle Tree we have a spectacular array of candles perfect for outdoor entertaining, including those fragranced with natural insect repellent. Citrus fragrances in particular are well know to deter insects, along with lemon, grapefruit and certain herbs such as thyme and rosemary. These are all great combinations to use with both indoor and outdoor candles. Take a look below at some of our favourite selections, to enhance and make the most of your Summer evenings.

Thyme & Mint Scented Large Potted Candle

Fill your home with the crisp, clean scent of crushed fresh garden mint blended with the herbal scent of thyme with our Scented Large Potted Candle. The Victorian-inspired terracotta pot is beautifully hand-poured with natural wax hand mixed with a fusion of freshly picked mint and soothing thyme with notes of camomile, rosemary and freshly cut grass. Once used why not fill with soil and plant some herbs to create your own Victorian herb garden.

These Victorian inspired terracotta pots are poured with the crisp, clear scent of crushed fresh garden mint blended with the herbal scent of thyme. Once used why not fill with soil and plant some herbs to create your own Victorian herb garden.

For best results burn candle 3-4 hours at a time, never move whilst lit or until wax hardens. Keep wick trimmed to approx 10mm and remove wick trimmings, match stubs and any other foreign objects. Enjoy these alight for about 28 hours. Size 100mm x 110mm. 1 per pack. Fill your home with the beautiful scent of our Thyme & Mint Scented Large Potted Candle. Sold as singles.

Citronella Scented Tealights

Each hand poured tealight is delicately fill with a fresh lemony fragrance, great to keep insects away. Each twinkling tea light burns for up to 6 hours each. This new packaging further supports our sustainability ethos by being 100% recyclable and is great for easy storage too. Citronella Tea Lights are ideal for keeping midges and other flying insects at bay, both indoors and out. Perfect for use on their own – and even better when burnt inside a candle lantern to shield them from draughts. these are really effective and suit outdoor eating scenarios, picnics and BBQs, although BBQ smoke does a good job of keeping the midges away too. Midges dislike the smell of citronella, so burn a couple at a time to double your chances of keeping them away.

Lantern Antique Cream Finish

Beautiful lantern in a rustic antique cream finish, imperfections are part of this beautiful design. Add a touch of vintage elegance to your home with these Antique Cream Lanterns. Made of sturdy metal, these lanterns exude a rustic charm that will complement any interior style. The cream colour adds a soft and timeless appeal, while the intricate detailing and distressed finish give them an authentic antique look. Whether you use them as a centerpiece on a dining table or as ambient lighting in a living room, these lanterns will bring a warm and inviting atmosphere to any space. Perfect for both indoor and outdoor use, these lanterns are a versatile and stylish addition to your home decor.

• Size - H32/L19 cm.

• Material: Iron

• Candle not included.

• Quantity - one.

• Material: Iron.

• Beautifully crafted rectangular vintage cream lantern. Glass door on one side.

• Shabby chic and beautiful, made from metal in a shabby cream finish.

Here, at The Candle Tree in Gloucester, we have lots of outdoor and indoor candles, including creative lighting ideas!  We also have a fabulous assortment of natural French soaps. The Candle Tree also stocks a range of home fragrances & accessories and luxury bath & body products. Check out our online shop or pop in our store if in the area.