Lampe Berger

History is full of amazing scientific inventions: television, radio, computer, internet, cars, and airplanes, just to name a few. Smaller inventions often end up going unnoticed and taken for granted. It is important to realize that these are in no way smaller in the scientific credibility. Rarely do we realize the importance of a fan or nuts and bolts in our daily lives. The fragrance lamp is another invention that seems to have been ignored.

The first fragrance lamp was created in 1898 by a pharmacy dispenser, Maurice Berger. These lamps became famous under the name lampe berger. They were originally created to purify the air of hospital wards. The initial design was simple and was composed of fragrance oils which when burnt, diffused into air and disinfected the air, leaving behind a pleasant smell.

The hospital premises, soon after living standards improved, integrated air cleansing as an importance for their facilities. Because of this fragrance lamps started playing a key role in air freshening. From 1907 onwards, the lamps started being commercially produced as lampe berger lamps. Till this time the lamps were only associated to hospitals. However, the company took a more consumer based approach and thus the lamps became a vital part of many households. The production company saw it more appropriate to turn the lamps into objects of beauty. Soon they were produced made out of glass, porcelain, crystal, and even satin glass. Fragrances were eventually developed that were tough enough to eliminate odor like fish, broccoli and ginger. As a result, the French, who have always been mesmerized by beauty and fragrance, became addicted to these lamps. They were desired by all, especially as a living room adornment and air freshener.

These lamps are still very popular. And why wouldn't they be? Their easy to use technique has kept their popularity alive even after hundred years. These lamps are multi functional i.e. they purify air, they burn to give light and they are delicate objects of beauty. However, unlike other multi functioning products, they seem to perform all three of their functions quite well. Other fragrance lamps will use sixteen ounces to only offer the customer about fifty five burnings with forty five minutes of light. These lamps will come in handy when aerosols and air conditioners fail, they are truly a great scientific invention.


lampe berger