Maison Berger Paris (formerly known as Lampe Berger) is a prestigious French brand famous for its unique catalytic lamps. Originally designed in 1898 by pharmacy dispenser Maurice Berger to purify the air in hospitals, these lamps have evolved into high-end home fragrance icons.

How the Catalytic Lamp Works

Unlike candles or diffusers that simply mask odors, the Maison Berger lamp uses a high-temperature catalytic process to destroy odor molecules and bacteria in the air.

1. The Burner: The heart of the lamp is a patented ceramic catalytic burner.

2. The Process: When the burner is heated, it reaches a specific temperature that allows it to attract and oxidize (break down) malodorous molecules (tobacco, cooking smells, pets).

3. Diffusion: While the outer rim of the burner destroys odors, the center of the burner remains at a lower temperature, which allows it to diffuse the fragrance oil into the room without burning the perfume notes, preserving the quality of the scent.

The Components

• The Lamp: A decorative vessel (made of glass, porcelain, or crystal) that holds the fragrance.

• The Burner/Wick: A cotton wick attached to a ceramic burner head.

• The Stopper: A small cap used to extinguish the lamp and prevent the alcohol from evaporating when not in use.

• The Decorative Frame: An open-work cap that sits over the burner for safety and aesthetics while the lamp is diffusing.

The Oils (Parfum de Maison)

Maison Berger uses specific home fragrances composed of 90% isopropyl alcohol, water, and concentrated perfumes.

• Air Pur System: The high alcohol content is necessary for the catalytic combustion.

• Variety: There are dozens of scents ranging from "Oriental Star" and "Ocean Breeze" to "Sandalwood" and "Zest of Verbena."

• Neutral Oil: You can also use "So Neutral" oil, which purifies the air and removes odors without adding any scent. It is also used to dilute other scents if they are too strong or to clean the burner between different fragrances.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Fill: Fill the lamp about 2/3 full with your chosen fragrance oil.

2. Soak: Insert the wick/burner and let it soak for at least 20 minutes (only necessary for the first use or if the wick is dry).

3. Light: Light the burner with a match or lighter and let the flame burn for exactly 2 minutes.

4. Blow Out: Blow out the flame. The burner will now be glowing and hot, but there is no active fire.

5. Purify: Put the decorative frame on. Leave the lamp for 20-30 minutes (usually 1 minute per square meter).

6. Stop: To stop the process, remove the decorative frame and place the stopper cap back over the burner. This cuts off the oxygen and stops the catalytic reaction.