Ashleigh & Burwood

What is an Ashleigh & Burwood Fragrance Lamp? Frequently Asked Questions...

Here are a few of the FAQ's relating to the Ashleigh & Burwood Fragrance Lamps range. If you have any other questions that are not answered here please do not hesitate to contact us.

For a quick instructions on how to get started with your lamp download our handy "How To Use Your Fragrance Lamp" guide.

About

The origin of the Catalytic Lamp goes back to 1898 when a French pharmacist created the Catalytic Combustion system to disinfect the air in hospitals. The original models were made of crystal or glass and operated with the same method of purification that is used today: diffusion by catalytic combustion.

The catalytic burner captures and destroys the molecules that carry odours. The mixing of air and the movement from convection ensures that odours are destroyed as well as airborne microorganisms. Catalytic lamps actually purify the air before perfuming it.

In the 1920's designers were commissioned to create aesthetic bottles to be offered to the private consumers. The lamps, which had previously cleansed and purified the air exclusively in the institutional setting, now came into the private home.

While air fresheners and room sprays usually mask odours, catalytic lamps actively purify, cleanse and perfume the air in a wide area. Common odours in the home produced by cooking, pets, tobacco and exercising can be safely and effectively removed by using Ashleigh & Burwood fragrance (catalytic) lamps.

Ashleigh & Burwood are an industry leader offering the best selection of catalytic lamps and lamp oils.

Yes, the Ashleigh & Burwood catalytic lamp really does help to cleanse and purify the air. Independent tests conducted for Ashleigh & Burwood give the following results for destruction of airborne microorganisms:

Dust mites:
- D. farinae - 99% mortality rate after 30 minutes

Bacteria:
- Escherichia coli (E. coli) – 99% mortality rate after 30 minutes
- S. aureus - 99% mortality rate after 30 minutes
- E. aerogenes - 99% mortality rate after 30 minutes

Mould Spores:
- S. chartarum - 96% mortality rate after 30 minutes

Tobacco Smoke:
- 99.9% removal of tobacco smoke particles after 30 minutes

There is no particular reason why the lamp cannot be used in any room in your home, as long as it is on a flat, stable surface away from combustible materials and out of reach of children or pets.

Yes, provided you follow the safety instructions and keep your lamp out of reach, so that there is no risk of the lamp being knocked over or touched. Always place your lamp on a flat stable surface. Remember that the stone is hot when in use. Always ensure the crown is on the lamp when it is in use to prevent contact with the hot stone.

- The Crown covers the hot stone to prevent accidental contact.

- The Snuffer cap covers the catalytic stone. This prevents the oil from evaporating when the lamp is not in use. It is also used to cover the hot stone to turn the lamp "off".

- The Retainer is a small metal clip that holds the stone, collar and wick together. You should never remove this clip.

- The Stone is a special porous ceramic material coated in platinum and other rare metals. This is where the lamp does its work.

- The Collar supports the stone and secures the wick in place.

- The Wick carries the oil from the body to the stone.

- The Assembly is a group name for the wick, collar, stone & retainer.

- The Neck is a metal crimp attached to the lamp body which supports the assembly. This cannot be removed.

- The Body is the main part of the lamp that holds the oil.

The lamp will last indefinitely as long as the body or neck is not damaged. This question normally means "how long will the stone last?" Provided it is used exclusively with Ashleigh & Burwood's Lamp Oil and is not misused, then each assembly will last for well over 300 uses or over 700 hours. Ashleigh & Burwood have tested stones that have passed 300 uses and still they work at their optimum level.

Wick/Stone

Never pull the wick out by the stone always hold the collar and remove the whole Wick/Stone Assembly in one piece. Always ensure that the stone is completely cooled before touching it.

The stone will stay hot while there is oil remaining or until covered with the snuffer cap.

If your stone should become damaged your lamp will not work efficiently. Fit a new Wick/Stone Assembly before using your lamp again.

Oil is not being delivered to the stone. Check that your lamp contains oil, this is especially important with opaque lamps. Check also that the wick is inserted fully into the lamp so that the bottom of the wick is in the oil. After checking this, put the snuffer cap on the lamp for 20-30 minutes to prime it and then re-light.

Oil is not being delivered efficiently to the stone. Check that your lamp contains oil, this is especially important with opaque lamps. Check also that the wick is inserted fully into the lamp so that the bottom of the wick is in the oil. After checking this, put the snuffer cap on the lamp for 20-30 minutes to prime it and then re-light. If this does not work it is likely your stone has become clogged with fragrance. Follow the instructions below for "How do I clean the Stone?"

The stone has become clogged with fragrance. This is most likely because the snuffer cap was not put on the lamp when it was not in use. Fragrance has concentrated in the stone making it difficult to light. Follow the instructions below for "How do I clean the Stone?"

We can supply replacements for both sizes of the wick/stone assembly... Click here for more details and to buy your replacement wick/stones.

Oil/Burning

This is one of the most important parts of the lamp system. As its name implies it is used for covering the stone to stop the lamp working. It should also always be put on the lamp whenever the lamp is not actually working. If you do not cover the stone fully when the lamp is not working, any oil in the lamp will continue to be fed to the stone where it will evaporate leaving concentrated fragrance in your stone. This is the most common way that the stone stops working as the micro-pores in the stone become blocked with fragrance. Always cover the stone fully with the snuffer cap when the lamp is not in use.

Fill the lamp 2/3 full.

It is important to have an air gap between the oil and top of the lamp to allow for efficient working of the lamp.

Do not fill the lamp more than 2/3 full of oil or spillage may occur. If you do overfill the lamp, carefully pour the excess back into the fragrance bottle, wipe down the lamp with a damp cloth. Replace the wick/stone assembly, cover with the snuffer cap and leave for 20-30 minutes to prime before using. The lamp does not show an obvious flame or smoke so it can be possible to forget your lamp is working. If you fill your lamp and forget it is on, it will keep working until all the oil is exhausted.

No, it is not recommended to mix any of the Ashleigh & Burwood fragrance lamp oils.

Unfortunately not. The fragrances are specially developed by Ashleigh & Burwood to work efficiently with your lamp. Using other types of fragrance could be dangerous and will damage the catalytic stone and invalidate your guarantees.

The Ashleigh & Burwood Fragrance Lamps use about 30ml of oil per hour, depending on ambient conditions.

This is most probably because the Wick/Stone assembly has not been fitted into the lamp correctly. If the collar of the Wick/Stone assembly is not fully inserted into your lamp, the oil will slowly evaporate. This can also happen if the snuffer cap is not fully pushed down to cover the stone. Remove the Wick/Stone assembly and check that there is oil in your lamp, topping up if necessary. Replace the Wick/Stone assembly, ensuring the collar is fully inserted into the neck. Put on the snuffer cap and leave for 20-30 minutes to prime before using.

You should expect a flame of 3-4 inches (75-100mm) the first time you use your lamp. The more you use the same stone, the smaller the initial flame will be but it will always produce a flame of at least 2-3 inches (50-75mm) to get the stone up to working temperature.

It is most likely that the flame was extinguished before the stone had reached its working temperature. Put the snuffer cap on the lamp and leave it for 20-30 minutes to prime. Light the stone again and allow the flame to burn for a full 2 minutes before extinguishing. If this does not work it is likely your stone has become clogged. Follow the instructions below for "How do I clean the Stone?"

There is a small amount of water in the lamp oil. Occasionally, especially if there is very dry air, this water vapour and/or elements of the fragrance compound itself can be seen coming from the stone.

You can but it would be very wasteful. The lamps have been tested to ensure that they are safe even during extended periods of use, however the ideal amount of time to use the lamp to purify and fragrance the air in an average size room is one minute per cubic metre, in other words 20 minutes use in a 20sq metre (215sq ft) room.

If you know you will not be using your lamp for extended periods, it is best to leave it empty. Pour any surplus oil carefully back into the original bottle, using the funnel supplied with your lamp. Then use your lamp until all the remaining oil is used up and it goes out on its own. Leaving a lamp filled for very extended periods may cause fragrance to accumulate in the stone making it difficult to light. If you have any problems lighting the stone after extended periods without use, follow the instructions below for "How do I clean the Stone".

You can pour the current oil from the lamp back into its original bottle with the funnel provided or use up all remaining fragrance in your lamp by running it until it goes out of its own accord.

Remove the Stone/Wick assembly and allow to this to air-dry overnight on a piece of kitchen paper.

At this point it is quite safe to simply change to the new fragrance (prime the lamp again for 20-30 minutes before lighting) - initially you will smell a small amount of the old fragrance as well, however this will quickly disappear.

However, if you would prefer to have no mix of smells at all, fill the lamp with about 50ml of un-fragranced neutral oil. Allow it to prime, and then run the lamp until all this un-fragranced oil is used up. Your lamp is now cleaned of the previous fragrance you used and can be filled with your new choice of fragrance.

Cleaning

To clean the outside of the lamp, simply wipe down with a damp cloth and allow it to dry. You can polish it with a proprietary furniture or glass polish. For safety reasons, do not do this while the lamp is in use and always ensure the lamp has fully cooled before cleaning it.

To clean a Wick/Stone assembly follow these instructions:

The following process should be done well in a ventilated area. Do not smoke or have any naked flames during this process.

- Carefully remove the whole wick/stone assembly from the lamp, lifting it by the collar.
- Place the whole assembly in a small ceramic cup or eggcup.
- Pour enough un-fragranced lamp oil into the cup to cover the stone.
- Cover the top of the cup with cling-film for safety, and to avoid evaporation of the oil.
- Leave in a cool place overnight, out of reach of children or pets. You may see the liquid become slightly yellow in colour, which is a sign that the liquid is drawing out burned deposits from the stone.
- Remove the assembly from the cup and discard the remaining liquid (You should never use this ‘cleaning’ liquid in a lamp).
- Put the wick/stone assembly in a lamp that does not contain any oil.
- Light immediately. Allow the flame to burn out of its own volition.
- Allow to cool.
- The stone is now clean and ready to use again.

N.B. For a very badly clogged stone, follow these steps again, this time leaving the stone soaking for a longer period, for example 48 hours.

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