Citronella Oil Burners for the Garden - Top 5 - [2020 Review]

Best Citronella Oil Burners

Citronella Oil Burners for the Garden and Patio can be a huge help, supplying an attractive ambiance, twinkling light, and essential bug protection in the evening. After looking at several citronella oil burning lanterns, we have found that the H Potter Garden Table Top Deck Torch is the highest quality citronella burning lantern available.

With a hand-blown glass base/oil reservoir, and a brass cap/wick holder, this garden lantern is beautiful, simple, and kitsch free. It is easily filled with oil and will burn for hours. This unit is designed to solely sit on a tabletop; it cannot be mounted on a torch, or in any other way. For a complete review of this lantern, please see below.

The Tiki Island King 4-in-1 Torch is kitschy, but it is a far cry from the cheap bamboo tiki torches so commonly found. While we have a soft spot for these types of torches, in the right environment, the higher quality torches like the Island King here are far more useful and stylish. These units burn a surprisingly large flame (and use up a good bit of fuel) which really sets them apart from the standard Tiki torches out there. With four mounting options, from deck mount to standard garden stake, to tabletop setups, the Tiki Brand Island King torch is extremely flexible. If you pick up multiples of these units, you can set them up in a variety of ways, but keep a consistent look. For a complete review of these units, please see below.

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Torch Filling Accessory

You may want the Tiki Snap & Pour Torch Filling Accessory, depending on your circumstances. Some buyers love these units, as it does simplify refilling a torch, but others find them unnecessary, and simply pour the citronella oil directly into the reservoir, or use a small funnel to keep things clean. These Torch Filling Accessories are not mandatory, but many find them useful, so if you feel that you want to keep things as safe and mess-free as possible, you may want to pick up a Snap & Pour Torch Filler. If you already have a small funnel you can dedicate to this, we would suggest skipping this item.

Citronella Oil Burning Lantern Reviews

In this section, we look closely at five different citronella oil burner options. We’ll start with a comparison table to get the lay of the land, and then look in depth at each of the options. We’ll conclude with another look at our favorites.

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1. H Potter Patio Garden Table Top Deck Torch

The Garden Table Top Deck Torch by H Potter is a pretty glass tabletop citronella oil burning lamp. These units are about as far from kitschy Tiki style citronella oil burners can get, and have almost a perfume-bottle look that is quite elegant. The lantern is made of hand blown glass, with a brass snuffer cap attached by a chain. The finish on the brass is brushed and sealed with a clear coat of lacquer and is extremely beautiful. If you want a simple tabletop lantern to keep a table illuminated and protected from bugs, the H Potter deck torch is a beautiful choice. This lantern is approximately 6“ x 6“ in dimension.

Mounting Options

These units can only be placed on a tabletop; there is no torch mounting option. They have a solid, flat bottom, and are quite stable even in windy conditions.

Burning

The clear glass is quite beautiful and accentuates the color of the fuel that is burning (some citronella oils are blue, some yellow, etc.). The wick is replaceable, should you need a new wick over time. You can find new wicks at any home improvement store, or from Amazon. Simply thread the new wick through the lantern cap and you’ll be good to go.

Weather Resistance

The H Potter garden lantern is highly weather resistant, with glass and brass finish. Glass is completely weather resistant, and brass is a highly regarded outdoor material, especially with the clear coat of lacquer. If the clear coat disappears, the brass will fade into an attractive patina that will enhance the overall look of the lantern.

Fuel

To fill the Garden Table Top Deck Torch, simply unscrew the top section, push the wick to the side, and pour the citronella oil or fuel of your choice inside. Re-screw the top cap, and ignite. H Potter recommends the Firefly Citronella Oil to use with this lamp, but any similar oil will work fine. The unit includes a filler funnel to make fueling easier, which is a nice plus.

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2. TIKI Brand 66-inch Island King Large Flame Torch Gunmetal Finish

The TIKI Island Kit torch is an impressive garden torch, with an elegant finish that blends modern and Polynesian in a pleasing way. They are finished in a cool dark bronze color, with black accents. The overall design of these is excellent. The flame on these units is significantly larger than those on typical garden candle torches, which is great! However, they are going to use more fuel than other torches, and they still really cover approximately the same area for bug-protection. They are bright enough to see by, though, which is noticeably different than most other candle-style garden torches. These lanterns are 5.5“ x 5.5“ x 71“ tall, and only function with the torch body attached.

Mounting Options

The Island King tiki torch is designed to be mounted to the pole, in the ground. If you really wanted to you could remove the pole from the torch (they unscrew) and rest the lantern portion on a tabletop, but as you can see it would not be very stable. If you were to devise a mount or other protection mechanism to prevent the torch from collapsing, you could use it as a tabletop lantern.

Burning

The flame on the Island King is large, and can be adjusted as desired (obviously when the flame is not lit!). The burn time when the reservoir is full is approximately 6 hours, depending on how large the flame is. The included wick lasts quite a while and may last the life of the torch. Should your wick burn out rapidly, you can easily get a replacement. If you would like to purchase a replacement wick, be sure to pick up an 8 1/4“ wick for Tiki torches. There is an attached metal snuffer for easy and safe fire extinguishing. The snuffer is secured by a magnetic system, which is nice, as it will not likely break or rust like some metal chains do, but one may easily separate the snuffer from the torch when moving the torch setup without realizing it.

Ground Stakes

The ground stakes on these units work well, and once firmly planted in the soil, stick up about 56“.

Weather Resistance

The Island King torch is pretty weather resistant and rust resistant. You may find you will get some rust over time around the magnetic area that attaches the snuffer to the main torch, but otherwise, these units are pretty well protected. That said, it is always wise to bring them in or store them as much as possible when not in use.

Fuel

The Island King is easily filled with citronella oil fuel. The Firefly odorless citronella oil fuel is recommended to go with these torches, but any similar fuel will do, so shop around. When refilling the Island King, you’ll use about 8 oz of fuel for a full refill. Filling the Island King is extremely easy: just twist the cap to reveal the hole (similar to how bulk salt containers work) and you can pour in the citronella oil to fill the lantern. Twist to close, and ignite!

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3. TIKI 1112341 Lamplight Slate Resin 3-in-1 Torch

The TIKI Lamplight slate Resin 3-in-1 torch is a surprisingly modern, yet classically “Tiki” looking citronella oil burner. With simple lines and a simple cylindrical shape, this tiki torch is an attractive choice for simple outdoor lighting and mosquito protection. This includes one torch with three mounting options.

Mounting Options

• Standard torch (61“ tall)
• Garden Torch
• Tabletop Unit

Burning

The TIKI Lamplight torch is an attractive garden torch, which looks nice and burns steadily, even in a windy environment. the lamp section is easily filled with fuel and will burn for over 4 hours when completely filled. The Lamplight Tiki Torch has an attached snuffer, secured on a metal chain to the torch, for safe extinguishing of the torch when needed. The fact that it is tethered to the Lamplight is excellent for safety; no need to rush around to find a misplaced extinguisher tool. That said, some have reported the chains breaking after a small amount of use, so be gentle with the chains when using them.

Ground Stakes

The ground stakes work fine and allow these to be set up in a garden or along a path. For coverage, you’ll probably want 5 for a 12’ x 12’ area, one on each corner, and one in the center. Note that you should secure these into the ground fairly deeply as if you don’t insert the stakes deeply enough, the torch can topple. Obviously not a good thing!

Weather Resistance

These units are made from resin plastic and should last for a while in the elements. When the weather turns nasty, it can’t hurt to bring these inside, as you’re not likely to use them anyway. The more protected they are from snow and ice, the better, and even bringing them in before rain can help. If you’re using them as stakes, you may consider leaving the stakes but taking the lantern sections inside.

Fuel

Any citronella fuel will work with this tiki torch, but the Tiki brand fuel is recommended. you don’t have to use this fuel, however, and it may be wise to shop for the cheapest price.

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4. TIKI Brand 64-inch Resin Jar Torch 4-in-1

The TIKI Brand 64“ Resin Jar Torch is a clever 4-in-1 design that can be used in a variety of different ways. It is available in three different finishes (stone, graphite gray, and travertine) and is surprisingly versatile. These plastic torches look beautiful when lit, and are reasonably attractive even when not lit. They provide good bug protection, depending on the number of torches used, and the wind environment. For clarity, this listing is for one torch with four mounting options.

Mounting Options

• 64“ high torch, free standing
• 50“ high torch, free standing
• deck-mounted torch
• table-top torch

The Tiki 64“ Resin Jar Torch burns citronella oil fuel, and a 12 oz fill of citronella will burn for approximately 4 hours. In order to fill the torch, you simply unscrew the top and pour in the fuel. Light the torch and you’re good to go. In terms of bug protection, a single torch will protect a small patio table area, depending on the wind. If your patio is medium sized or larger, you will want to pick up multiple torches to increase the protection. To give an idea of their coverage, if you had a 12’ x 12’ deck, you may want to get five of these torches for complete coverage: one for each corner, and one for the center.

Burning

The size of the flame is adjustable, so depending on your environment, you can increase and decrease the flame/amount of fuel used. The lantern portion itself is approximately 8“ tall x 4“ wide. The wicks can be changed if you burn through them completely, and are compatible with generic replacement wicks. That said, they last a good long while. A snuffer is included to quickly extinguish the flame if needed.

Ground Stakes

The stakes come in three sections: one section that screws into the lantern, and two other sections. If you intend to install these into the ground, the bottom section has a plastic point. Depending on the hardness of the ground, you can press the stake into the ground, or hammer it in with a rubber mallet. You may want to use a steel rod as a pilot hole if your ground is exceedingly hard.

Weather-Resistance

These citronella oil burners are pretty hardy and can be left out in the weather within reason. They are made of plastic and have a rustic finish to start with, so if they get a bit weathered, the finish will only be enhanced. That said, we would suggest bringing them in during the winter time, or if you don’t plan on using them for a prolonged period.

Fuel

Pretty much any citronella oil will work well with this unit, so choose what you like. The Firefly citronella oil is economical, odorless, and effective at keeping the bugs away, so we recommend that.

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5. 4-Pack 11 in Assorted Color Table Top Torch

The four-pack assorted color tabletop torch is an interesting option for those who are looking solely for a tabletop garden citronella oil solution. With four similar shaped, but different colored lanterns, these tabletop oil burners are a good choice for those with multiple tabletop locations to illuminate. These oil burners are made of glass, with metal bases that lean eclectic and contemporary in design. The glass bottles are colored for a funky look when the torches are lit. Each lantern is about 3“ x 11“, and the metal base is about 5“ x 8“.

Mounting Options

These units only sit on a table top, and cannot be attached to stakes.

Some have reported receiving units with broken glass, so be sure to check the box as soon as you receive it. If contacted within the appropriate return period time, the seller will send a replacement glass to you at no charge.

Burning

These units supply a surprisingly large flame, so be prepared. They are small torches, but the flames are significant and should be treated like free-standing lanterns, as opposed to a single torch unit to be used at a single location. A consequence of the large flame is that these units eat through fuel pretty rapidly, so be prepared. You can adjust the wick length somewhat (when the flame is out!) to control the flame size, but there is only so much adjustment that is possible.

Ground Stakes

No ground stakes are included with these lanterns, and ground stakes would not function with these. The Table Top Torches are strictly for use with the metal bases only. The table top bases are surprisingly secure, and these units don’t seem to be very prone to tipping over, even in wind. However, beware that significant wind will throw the flames around quite a bit!

Weather Resistance

These units are pretty weather resistant, but they are also easy to bring inside or to shelter when not in use. You may want to store them in a deck box or other outdoor storage container for safety when not in use, and they will last quite a while. The cap can extinguish the fuel, but there is no tether to secure the cap to the base or glass lantern area. Be sure to not lose the caps when in use! When not being used, the caps screw on and do a good job of protecting the wicks from damage, and protecting the fuel from getting water infiltration.

Fuel

The designers of these torches recommend using Firefly Citronella Tiki Torch Fuel, though any other tiki citronella oil will work just fine with these. Shop around for the best price that has the feature set you’re looking for!

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Conclusion: Cintronella Burners

There are many great citronella burners, and once you find the style for you, you’ll be able to keep those pesky mosquitoes away and add to the ambiance of your patio. Be sure to check out or information on the best tiki torch fuel to keep those burners fueled up (we love the eucalyptus oil!), and also consider planting some mosquito-resistant plants in the garden or on the patio in order to naturally repel the pests.

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