My Honest Fresh Wave Review: Is It Worth It?
I saw thousands of raving reviews on Amazon for Fresh Wave products which got me really curious to find out – are the ingredients actually safe and good for non toxic living? And also does it actually work to take out odors?
So, I’m here to test out Fresh Wave products and share my Freshwave review to answer all the questions you might have about the product. I tested many products from them to see if it’s actually worth the hype.
Some links may be affiliate links.
What is Fresh Wave?
Fresh Wave was founded over 30 years ago and they started off tackling odor in industries like landfills, power plants, and treatment centers. Then, they transitioned to using a similar formula to create products to tackle odor in homes.
That’s pretty much all I could online about the brand’s backstory!
Their products are cruelty-free and manufactured in Rising Sun, Indiana.
Is Fresh Wave safe?
Since greenwashing exists so often, I can’t take the brand’s word for it on whether they are a clean brand. I always take a detailed look at their full ingredient list and check external sources like EWG. After investigating the ingredients, I found a few ingredients that were questionable.
- Proprietary natural plant oil blend: Under the Trade Secret per Uniform Secrets Act, brands are able to hide their list of fragrance ingredients under a general term. I understand it’s proprietary information, but I did wish they showed it. It’s crucial for those with sensitive skin to know if they have allergic reactions to any of the ingredients.
- Proprietary preservatives: Preservatives can cause serious skin and eye irritation so I don’t like the fact that the preservatives list is hidden.
I did email Fresh Wave to get more information on the plant oil blend and preservatives list. I’m waiting to hear back. Once I do, I’ll give an update on what they say.
This is what I emailed them:
Update: I received an email back and here’s what they said:
- Unfortunately, we do not disclose this information.
- Dr. Haupert has previously disclosed that methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone are NOT ingredients of ours. I will get back to you with her response when she is next available.
- All of our primary ingredients are listed on our website. Since all of our formulas are plant oil based, we do not recommend that people with allergies to citrus or lavender oils use our products. In fact, if you have any allergies to plant oils we recommend avoiding our products, as very often, plant oils are found commonly in multiple plants. For example, linalool may be found in lavender plants and in rose plants, so if you have an allergic reaction to roses, you may also have one with lavender flowers.
Unfortunately, this didn’t give me clear information on the ingredients in their “proprietary blend”.
What Ingredients Are Not In Fresh Wave Products
Fresh Wave is made with plant extracts and doesn’t contain any:
- VOCs
- Phthalates
- Alcohol
- Aerosols
- Parabens
- Toxins
- Synthetic fragrances.
They list out their full ingredient list here.
Fresh Wave does have the Safer Choice label which means the ingredients have undergone a rigorous testing process to ensure they are safer for humans and the environment.
Specifically, they make sure the product is safe in the categories of “carcinogenicity, reproductive/developmental toxicity, toxicity to aquatic life, and persistence in the environment.”
One thing I found that the Safer Label does not take into account which I wish they did is fragrances. They have separate criteria for analyzing fragrances. They do this because many fragrance ingredients actually don’t meet the criteria for safer chemical ingredients in the Safer Choice Label.
All of this being said, it’s impossible to not have fragrance ingredients when it comes to air fresheners, odor absorbers, and anything that is made to make your space smell good.
So, I do really appreciate the fact that they do have the Safer Choice label and are free from all the main toxins we don’t want. Also, they use no synthetic fragrances which makes me think they don’t have any nasty fragrance ingredients hidden.
But I do have to note that even some natural fragrances could cause allergens. All I can say is – ugh! Fragrance is such a tricky subject and there’s good and bad to it.
I can’t come to a confident conclusion on whether it’s completely safe until I hear back from them. But based on what I know about the Safer Choice label and the fact that they exclude the majority of toxins like phthalates and VOCs, I would consider it safe to use if you don’t have extra sensitivities.
Fresh Wave Review
Fresh Wave Odor Removing Gel Review
The gel was the first Fresh Wave product I used. To use it, you just remove the cap, take off the seal, and then put the cap back on.
Once I opened the packaging, I already knew I loved the scent. If you smell it up close, you can smell a very strong earthy, and herbal scent with the smallest hint of floral.
But if you smell it from far away, the scent isn’t strong but it does a great job at clearing up all the musty smells.
I left my Fresh Wave odor gel in the living room for 1 hour and it already freshened up the whole space. Then, I moved it to my entryway area for 2 days. This is an area that causes odors because of the shoes and moisture we bring in. After 2 days, the smell is all gone.
I’m so impressed! I oftentimes just use this product on its own without any other air fresheners. If guests are over and I want to add more scent, then I add a safe air freshener like the one from Enviroscent.
This product evaporates over time so I just need to replace it every 50 days or so.
The reviews for the odor gel were very positive. People are saying they like to put it in their bathroom, car, and closet. Overall, they say the product really works and the scent isn’t too overpowering.
Fresh Wave Odor Removing Spray Review
I like to use Fresh Wave Odor Removing Spray on my couch, ottomans, and chairs. I even use it in my trash can. These items are difficult to wash so spraying the Fresh Wave fabric spray over it helps get rid of any moisture or smell from it.
I tried spraying this in an open space and it didn’t do much for me. The smell dissipated really quickly. It works best when spraying on an item.
The bottle comes with a lock so I don’t accidentally spray it.
Reviews for the spray are just as positive as for the odor gel! People are using it in almost every part of their house and many compliment the smell. I completely agree with them.
Fresh Wave Odor Removing Refills Review
I like to keep Fresh Wave in my home at all times so that means I use a lot of their refills! It comes in a 63oz tub which can fill up around four 15oz gel tubs. That means a refill tub can easily last you another 4-8 months.
It’s convenient because I don’t need to keep ordering on their website every 1-2 months.
I haven’t gotten this before, but if you end up loving Fresh Wave, they even have a gel bucket refill that’s 248oz. That can fit 16 gel tubs!
Fresh Wave Odor Removing Packs
After the odor-removing gel, these odor-removing packs are my second favorite product from Fresh Wave. It’s so easy to use – I just put them inside my sports bag (specifically my badminton bag) and also the shoes I wear most frequently.
It’s a game changer because these little areas are so hard to get odors out of. I find that sprays don’t work very well. But since these odor-removing packs stay inside for a while, it’s able to take out all the bad odors.
There aren’t as many reviews for odor removing packs as the odor gel and sprays, but the majority are really positive. People who left reviews are saying they love putting it in trash cans and storage areas.
Fresh Wave Scents
Currently, Fresh Wave has 3 scents – original, lavender, and lemon. I’ve tried all three scents and surprisingly, I like the original scent the most.
I normally like scented things but when it comes to odor absorbers, I feel like the neutral scent does the best job at taking out odors.
Other Fresh Wave Products
Besides the three products I talked about, Fresh Wave also has a ton of other products I did not get to try. Here is the full list:
- Fresh Wave Air Spray Odor Removal
- Fresh Wave Travel Spray
- Fresh Wave Pet Spray
- Fresh Wave Litter Box Gel
- Fresh Wave Laundry Booster
- Fresh Wave Vacuum Beads
- Fresh Wave Candle
Pros of Fresh Wave
- Cruelty-Free
- No VOCs, Phthalates, Alcohol, Aerosols, Parabens, Toxins, Synthetic Fragrances
- Uses All Plant Extracts: Lime, Pine, Cedarwood, Clove, Anise
- Has EPA’s Safer Choice Certification
Cons of Fresh Wave
- Doesn’t list out exactly what is in the natural plant oil blend. Would be useful for people with skin sensitivities to know.
- Uses Plastic Packaging: This is hard to avoid but the good thing is it’s recyclable.
Where to Buy Fresh Wave
You can find Fresh Wave on Amazon, on the Fresh Wave website, or Target.
On Amazon, they usually come in packs of 2 and are sold at a discount. I recommend getting it on the Fresh Wave website if you want to try only one product.
Does fresh wave really work?
Based on my experience, Fresh Wave does work! My favorite Fresh Wave product is the odor removing gels in the original scent. It does a really good job at not just covering the odors but actually getting rid of them.
How Long Does Fresh Wave Last?
For the 15oz Fresh Wave gel, their website states it lasts for 30-60 days. I found that it lasted around 50 days for me.
For the spray, I only use it once every few days so one bottle lasts me a few months. As for the odor-removing packs, they say it last up to 30 days and mine also lasted around 30 days.
Is Fresh Wave safe for baby?
Yes! Since Fresh Wave has a gentle plant-based formula, it’s safe for your baby.
So, Is Fresh Wave Worth It?
Personally, I think Fresh Wave is worth it only if you’re not sensitive to fragrances. They hide a ton of their fragrance and preservative ingredients which I’m not a fan of. The reason why I do think it’s worth it is because the products actually work and they are free of the majority of toxins like VOCs, phthalates, and parabens.
For those who are sensitive to it, I advise using natural odor removers like used coffee grounds or bamboo charcoal.
But with anything, it’s best to try out the product for yourself. I think as a home fragrance product, the ingredients are much better than many conventional brands.
Have you tried Fresh Wave? I’d love to know what you thought of it below!
For more similar reviews, check out these posts!
