Orange + Evergreen Fire Starters
One of the coziest outdoor activities in Winter (or anytime, really) is gathering around a fire. While my husband loves to sharpen his bushcraft skills to create an impressive blaze, I enjoy the convenience and fragrance of using these handmade Orange + Evergreen Fire Starters. They’re perfect for quickly getting a backyard bonfire going!
Keep a bowl filled with these little guys with the rest of your fire pit supplies. And don’t forget to pack a few in a Ziplock bag for your next camping trip! (Now is the perfect time to prepare for spring camping trips!) Fire starters make cute gifts, as well. I love them added to a s’mores kit or a welcome basket for overnight guests.
Fire Starter Project Supplies
For my orange + evergreen fire starters I used the peel of 1 1/2 to 2 oranges, cut into strips. Fresh or dried both work, and feel free to sub in the peel of lemons, grapefruit, tangerines, or any citrus fruit you have on hand.
The evergreen in my fire starters is cedar clippings from our backyard tree, but pine needles, fir, or cypress sprigs will work as well. (While clipping our tree I saw bunny tracks in the snow!)
Other supplies you’ll need include two cups of beeswax pellets (white or yellow), a cardboard dozen-egg carton, and enough dryer lint for a small piece in each fire starter.
The only special equipment you’ll use in this project are a designated double boiler (or glass mixing bowl) and designated spoon to stir with. I say “designated” because once you’ve used dishes and utinsels with melted wax, they’re incredibly hard to clean the wax off of. So now you’ll have equipment for your next wax project!
How to Make Orange + Evergreen Fire Starters
This project takes about 45 minutes of hands-on time, plus 4+ hours cooling time. It yields 12 fire starters.
What You’ll Need:
- Evergreen Clippings (12 small sprigs)
- Peel of 2 Oranges, cut into strips
- 2 cups Beeswax Pellets
- Dryer Lint, enough for 12 pinches
- Cardboard Egg Carton (dozen size)
- Double Boiler or Heavy Glass Mixing Bowl
- Pot to Boil Water In
- Scissors
- Baking Paper (to line your work surface)
Instructions:
1. Fill pot with hot water to about an inch below where the bottom of double boiler will rest. Place it on the stovetop and turn burner on to medium low heat. Pour beeswax pellets into double boiler or glass bowl and set on top of water pot. Stir every couple of minutes as the wax starts to melt. In 10-15 minutes the wax will be completely melted.
2. While the wax is melting line your workspace (where you’ll be pouring) with baking paper. Gather your orange peel, dryer lint, evergreen clippings, and cardboard egg carton. Place a half-inch sized piece of lint in each cup of the carton. Add a sprig of evergreen to each cup.
Finally, add two pieces of orange peel to each cup, pushing down slightly to make sure everything will get coated in wax.
3. Remove melted wax from heat. Carefully pour wax into each cup of the egg carton and leave to cool.
4. Wait four hours or overnight for the fire starters to completely cool and solidify. Cut the cups of the egg carton apart.
How to Use Your Fire Starters
Place whatever you like to use as kindling in your firepit or campfire ring (small sticks, crumpled newspaper, etc.).
Light the cardboard corners of a fire starter and nestle it into or under the kindling.
As the kindling catches fire, add a few medium sized sticks. Once those catch, add pieces of firewood, making sure you leave plenty of space between logs for air to get to the flame. The fire starter will burn 8-10 minutes, so no need to rush.
Enjoy your cozy fire! And maybe add to the fun with a hot cup of cider or Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate (recipe here)!
Per usual, this is not a sponsored post, nor does it contain affiliate links. When you do make these Orange + Evergreen Fire Starters make sure to tag me on IG @giles_south_studio so I can see your creation and send some love!
Orange + Evergreen Fire Starters
Equipment
- Double Boiler (one that you won't be using for cooking anymore as wax is difficult to clean off)
- Scissors
- Baking Paper
- Water Pot
- Spoon (again, one you don't plan to use with food again)
Materials
- 1 Carboard Egg Carton (12 egg)
- 24 1 inch Slices Orange Peel
- 12 small pieces Dryer Lint
- 12 sprigs Evergreen such as Cedar, Fir, Cypress
- 2 cups Beeswax Pellets (melts evenly, but chunks are fine, too) Yellow or white
Instructions
- Fill pot with hot water to about an inch below where the bottom of double boiler will rest. Place it on burner and turn on to medium low heat. Pour beeswax pellets into double boiler or glass bowl and set on top of water pot. Stir every couple of minutes as the wax starts to melt. In 10-15 minutes, the wax will be completely melted.
- While the wax is melting line your workspace (where you'll be pouring) with baking paper. Gather your orange peel, dryer lint, evergreen clippings, and cardboard egg carton. Place a half-inch sized piece of lint in each cup of the carton. Add a sprig of evergreen to each cup. Finally, add two pieces of orange peel to each cup, pushing them down slightly to make sure everything will get coated in wax.
- Remove melted wax from heat. Carefully pour wax into each cup of the egg carton and leave to cool.
- After four hours the fire starters will be completely cool. Cut the cups of the egg carton apart.
- TO USE: Light the carboard corners of one fire starter and nestle into your kindling. Build fire as usual.
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