How to Make Recycled Wine Bottle Tiki Torches

Ever since I was little, I’ve loved unique glass jars and bottles. I remember asking my mom if I could save old jars and bottles and I would make crafts with them or use them to store little toys.

Now, as an adult, I avoid plastic as much as possible and we use glass, stainless or wood in its place. I love that when making tinctures and natural remedies, I can save and reuse glass jars.

My natural remedies cabinet looks like a vintage apothecary with a collection of unique and recycled jars and bottles.

How to Upcycle Wine Bottles Into Tiki Torches

In recent years, it has gotten more difficult for my hubby and I to get away for date nights, so our go-to date is to drink a glass of wine on the patio after the kids go to bed. This has left us with quite a few beautiful wine bottles over the years.

The one downside to our patio wine-drinking dates this summer has been the clouds of mosquitos who like to join us.

Thanks to the magic of Pinterest, I’ve come up with some great ways to upcycle and reuse old wine bottles and my favorite is making these DIY wine bottle tiki torches.

Why Tiki Torches:

Where we live, this summer has (not so) affectionately come to be known as the mosquitopocalype because of the literal clouds of mosquitos. We’ve been using my homemade bug spray aplenty but when swimming, it is hard to keep enough bug spray on to avoid the mosquitos.

I started looking for some tiki torches to use in our yard but the only options at our local store were:

1. Really nice metal tiki torches that cost over $20 each
2. Cheaper bamboo ones that our puppy would likely confuse with his bone and chew on the first day

I started researching how to make tiki torches by reusing glass wine bottles and found a simple all-in-one option. We have quite a few of these in our yard now and they help with the mosquitos and look great too

Wine Bottle Tiki Torch Cautions

As with any DIY involving glass or fire, it is important to use caution when making and using these. Glass can break if it isn’t taken care of properly. Since this uses citronella oil, it can also be a fire hazard if used incorrectly. Of course, use common sense with these and make sure to:

• Use these only in areas where they can’t be knocked down or easily break. Or, use the kind with mounting brackets so they can be safely held in place. This is the kit I used to mount my tiki torches.
• Consider putting small rocks or marbles in the bottom of the bottle to add extra weight and prevent tipping if using on a table.
• Don’t use these indoors.
• Keep the wick on the top of the bottle at 1 inch or less.
• Store the torches in a garage or shed (or somewhere else away from the weather) when not in use.
• Again, use common sense.

Wine Bottle Tiki Torch Supplies

To make these tiki torches, you’ll need several very specific supplies:

• Wine, beer or liqour bottle with a standard size neck- (I recommend OZV or Dry Farms Wine)
• 1/2 by 3/8 copper coupling
• 10 inch tiki wick
• Nylon thread seal tape or 1/2 inch rubber washers
• OR an all-in-one tiki torch kit
• Tiki Torch Fuel*

*Most tiki torch fuels are petroleum based and create harmful byproducts when burned. I like this safe and green formula that is natural, sustainable and burns cleanly.

Wine Bottle Tiki Torch Kits

I also found a great kit that includes all of the supplies to make a tiki torch lamp. This kit is to make a mounted version that mounts to a fence, post or other surface. This kit includes the couplings and wicks to make 3 torches.

How to Make The Wine Bottle Tiki Torches

1. Wrap one side of the coupling with the nylon tape or slide the rubber washers onto it. This helps hold the coupling in place and seal off the fuel from the air. You’ll want to make sure that the coupling can slide into the mouth of the bottle tightly but not fall in. For wider bottles more nylon tape or thicker washers may be needed.
2. Feed the wick into the coupling, laeving about 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the coupling to be able to light.
3. Optional step: Add clean rocks or marbles to the bottom of the bottle to fill it 1/3 full. This is optional and only recommended for tiki torches that will be on a table and not those hanging or mounted.
4. Add tiki torch fuel to fill the bottle to the beginning of the neck. TIP: According to some sources, you can add a few inches of water first and then the fuel. The fuel floats on top of the water and this reduces the amount of fuel needed and makes it more efficient since the fuel doesn’t have to travel so far up the wick.
5. Carefully insert the coupling into the mouth of the bottle.
6. Let the wick absorb the fuel for at least half an hour before lighting.
7. Light and enjoy.

Other Ways to Reuse Wine Bottles

• Plant Watering: Drill a small hole in the top of a screw-on top wine bottle. Fill with water and return the cap with the drilled hole. Turn upside down and bury the neck of the bottle 4-5 inches in the dirt of a potted plant.
• Vase: Wrap an empty wine bottle in twine and use as a vase for simple flower arragements.
• Dish Soap Dispenser: Add a pour-top to an old wine bottle to make a dish soap dispenser or to store any other liquid ingredients.

What are your favorite at-home date ideas? How do you reuse old bottles?

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