During the summer, I always have homemade natural bug spray on hand, but I also love using tiki torches to light up our patio and keep the mosquitos away. This is quite a challenge where I live! I try to avoid plastic whenever possible, opting for glass, stainless steel, or wood instead, so I started looking for DIY ideas. With a bit of help from Pinterest, I began experimenting with upcycling my old wine bottles.
I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to achieve such an impressive and practical result! Over the years, it has become harder for my husband and me to get out for date nights because of the kids, so we often default to sharing a bottle of wine on the patio once the little ones are asleep. (Yes, wine can be healthy, I promise!)
The only downside to our patio wine-drinking dates is the inevitable swarm of mosquitos. Around here, summer is jokingly referred to as the “Mosquitopocalypse” because of the sheer number of these pesky insects. While bug spray works, sweating or swimming means you have to keep reapplying it to fend off those nuisance mosquitos.
I wanted to find some tiki torches for our yard, but the selection at our local store was limited. Eventually, I discovered a simple method for making tiki torches using glass wine bottles. We now have quite a few in our yard, and not only do they keep the mosquitos away, but they also enhance the decor!
Remember, when working with glass and fire, caution is key. Glass can break if not handled carefully, and since these torches use citronella oil, there’s a risk of fire if not used properly. It’s essential to use common sense with them.
This DIY project caught my interest because I’ve always adored unique glass jars. As a child, I would ask my mom if I could keep some of our old bottles and jars for crafts or to store small toys. Now, I save and repurpose glass jars for making tinctures and natural remedies. My natural remedies cabinet resembles a vintage apothecary with its collection of unique, colorful recycled jars and bottles.
Thanks to our patio dates, we now have a sizable collection of empty wine bottles that are too pretty to throw away. I hope you have some too. If not, start collecting your favorites, or choose the most attractive bottles to buy!
To make these tiki torches, you’ll need some specific supplies. Most tiki torch fuels are petroleum-based and release harmful byproducts when burned. I prefer a safe and eco-friendly formula that is natural, sustainable, and burns clean.
Are you going to try making these wine bottle tiki torches? How do you repurpose old bottles? Feel free to share if you have other ideas for date nights in!
