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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                            FINN DIXON & HERLING LLP
                                Attorneys at Law
                               ONE LANDMARK SQUARE
                           STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06901
                            Telephone (203) 325-5000
                            Facsimile (203) 348-5777



                                 August 13, 2002



Blyth, Inc.
One East Weaver Street
Greenwich, Connecticut  06831

Re: Blyth, Inc. -- Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Blyth, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission of a registration statement on Form S-8 as amended by
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 thereto (the "Registration Statement") of the
Company, covering 2,550,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Common Stock, $0.02 par
value per share, of the Company, to be issued pursuant to the Company's Amended
and Restated 1994 Employee Stock Option Plan or the Company's Amended and
Restated 1994 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (collectively, the
"Plans").

         In rendering the opinion set forth herein, we have examined executed
copies, telecopies or photocopies of: (i) the Registration Statement and the
Plans; (ii) the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Restated By-Laws and
minute books of the Company; and (iii) such other records, documents,
certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or
appropriate as a basis for the opinion expressed below. In our examination of
such documents we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal
capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us
as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to
us as certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of
such copies. As to any facts material to this opinion which we did not
independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and
representations of officers and other representatives of the Company.

         Based upon the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the
qualifications, assumptions and exceptions heretofore and hereinafter set forth,
we are of the opinion that, upon the issuance of the Shares in accordance with
the Plans (and in accordance with the terms of any written options, option
agreements or other agreements issued or entered into pursuant to the


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Plans) and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Shares will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         We do not express, or purport to express, any opinion with respect to
the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Connecticut,
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal securities
laws of the United States of America.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever
appearing in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not
thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This opinion is given as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to
update or supplement this opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances which
may hereafter occur or come to our attention or any changes in law which may
hereafter occur.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ Finn Dixon & Herling LLP