In 2007, Lampe Berger celebrated its 110th Anniversary as a company, which took its first breaths upon Maurice Berger's 1897 patenting of the first lamp and catalyst system designed to simultaneously purify air while imparting fragrance. Monsieur Berger was a pharmaceutical dispenser and designed his new system to eliminate unpleasant odors in his hospital. The molecules that cause foul odors are inherently unstable and the Berger fragrance lamp's flameless, low-temperature catalytic combustion speeds up the decomposition process, converting odor molecules into harmless substances (such as carbon dioxide and water). Subsequent research demonstrated that the catalytic process can also effectively eliminate up to 85% of bacteria in a room for up to 30 hours, AFTER initial operation has stopped.

By 1930, use of the Lampe Berger had spread far beyond hospitals and mortuaries, and found extensive use in homes, salons and Gentleman's Clubs, where smoking was the order of the day. These new locales called for placing the unobtrusive system within vessels that suited the decor, and the lamps that were commissioned were as beautiful as they were varied. Luminaries, such as Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso were amongst the first celebrities of their era to own and tout these practical object d'art. Far from being content with simple success, Lampe Berger has never rested upon its metaphorical laurels and has constantly strived to make incremental improvements to the product. In 1996, the firm went through a restructuring, creating a dedicated research and development division that was wholly separate from the art/design segment of the company, the sole objectives of the new division were to ensure that Lampe Berger operating system, catalyst, and catalysis medium remained at the cutting edge, and, in response to a rapidly changing social dynamic, place an increased concentration on optimizing the conversion of lingering tobacco odors. Since 1996, innovations at Lampe Berger have been continuous and have been systematically patented in over 20 countries. Not surprisingly, today, Lampe Berger remains the world's largest and most acclaimed catalytic fragrance lamps.

Operation of the lamp could not be easier. A quick light of the 3C catalytic medium, which utilizes platinum as a catalyst, produces a low level flame that is allowed to burn for about five minutes. Upon extinguishing the flame, a perforated cap (not unlike what you may have seen on an incense burner) covers the glowing catalyst, and the latter simultaneously draws scented oils up and air down to begin a marvelous process. A 30 minute glow/diffusion will provide many hours of vastly improved atmosphere. I smoke in my personal residence and own the Lampe Berger. It has my (and my wife's) unqualified reccommendations.