Originally, cresolene was put in the top of the burner so the fumes would be distributed throughout the room. Some pharmacists also used the burner for melting drugs to be used for injections.

Cresolene is a dark liquid with a pungent smell made from coal tar used in the 19th and early 20th century as a disinfectant and to treat various ailments such as colds and measles. There was also a special 'Vapo–Cresolene' lamp used to heat the substance so that the fumes could be inhaled.