JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

                                                             Page 14 of 16 Pages




                                                                       EXHIBIT 1


                                JOINT FILING AGREEMENT


         Each of the undersigned hereby agrees, pursuant to Rule 13d-1(f) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that the Amendment No. 2 to
Schedule 13G to which this Joint Filing Agreement is attached relating to the
shares of common stock, par value $0.02 per share, of Blyth Industries, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, is filed jointly on behalf of each such person.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned agree to the terms hereof as of 
this 7th day of February, 1997.




                                                  /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
                                                  ---------------------
                                                  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
                            
                            
                            
                                                  /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
                                                  ---------------------
                                                  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
                            
                            
                            
                                                  THE XXXXXXX FOUNDATION, INC.
                            
                            
                                                  By:/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx   
                                                     ------------------------
                                                     Name:  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
                                                     Title: President



                                                             Page 15 of 16 Pages



                                                  TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF XXXXX
                                                  X. XxXXXX


                                                  By:/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx   
                                                     ------------------------
                                                     Name:  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
                                                     Title: Co-Trustee