Review: Fresh Wave Super Gel

Heralded as a miracle solution for flooded homes, cigarette fumes, as well as for common kitchen stink, Fresh Wave products is a best seller at my local health store. But a big industrial plant that cleaned up the nation's nastiest factories suddenly offering their services to the public mainstream and claiming that it is natural and non-toxic? It sounded too good to be true.

I contacted the company with this form but somehow the template was eschewed, so I had to manually send all the potential toxins in question. The Fresh Wave representative emphasized that their product did not contain any of them, and asked why I asked these questions regarding toxicity. He also confirmed my suspicions. They do not disclose all their ingredients. So aside from water, natural extracts of lime, pine needle, aniseed, clove, cedarwood and soya, there's more. While I do understand companies not wanting to give full disclosure to their secret ingredients, it is frustrating for mothers trying to do the research to protect their kids. Needless to say, I at least found out that it did not contain phthlaltes.

So, does the product work? I bought their Super Gel which promises "continuous release of odor neutralizing crystals." Instead of masking odors, it supposedly neutralizes and eliminates them. It definitely makes a difference with odors. I can't say it eliminates all odors, but it does help significantly.

The directions state to pour the gel into several containers, but I later found out from their brochure that for maximum effect, shallow bowls work best. Depending on the air draft and exposure to the wind from an open window, the gel turns a yellowish color and needs constant replenishing. It smells pretty good. I don't even know how aniseed smells like, but I can definitely recognize the lime, clove, and pine. It smells vaguely like tea tree oil, but better.

Now for hard-core cooking odors, and mind you, I have a very stinky Korean kitchen, I don't think the gel has enough punch. I think the kitchen candle would be more ideal. In any case, this is a product that I think is safer than conventional air fresheners, but I think I'm still waiting for some organic company to tackle the smelly issue more openly.