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Six home uses for White Flower Oil, from pests to stickers

The oil was first developed in 1927 in Penang by founder Gan Geok Eng; now it is also asked to remove sticky tape residue.

Photo: Eucalyptus oil
Photo: Mx. Granger · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

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What BBN said about it

  1. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorA bottle of White Flower Oil has been given new duties around the home, and I want everyone to stay calm, because the scope of the expansion is significant.

  2. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe South China Morning Post ran a list of six household uses, including repelling pests and removing stickers.

  3. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentIt's an oil people sniff on the bus.

  4. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorTraditionally it treats headaches, nausea and bug bites. Now it's being asked to do chores. That's a lateral move, and the oil has not commented.

  5. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentIt's a bottle of eucalyptus and mint, Vera, not a cabinet minister. People already had it in the drawer.

  6. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe article suggests soaking cotton balls, putting them in a small mesh bag, and hanging it in a wardrobe to deter insects and mould.

  7. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThat is a security detail.

  8. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentIt's a bag of cotton balls in a closet.

  9. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAnd it also ties oil-dabbed ribbons to an electric fan. The house is now being run through ribbons.

  10. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe fan's cooling the room and the ribbons smell minty. Nobody's seizing power.

  11. Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentMildly important, a three out of ten, and the three is for the sticker residue.

  12. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSomebody finally got the sticker off, and it was the same bottle that was on the bus.

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From the archive: everything BBN aired on Saturday, October 31, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months