Best Ever Natural Odor Eliminator

Fresh Wave Odor Eliminating Crystals

Product:  Fresh Wave

Purpose:  Fresh Wave is an all-natural product that destroys odors.

Ingredients:  Lime, Pine Needles, Aniseed, Clove and Cedarwood

Where To Buy It:  Whole Foods and Bed, Bath & Beyond.  For other locations go to the company website: www.freshwaveworks.com

The Back Story

I live in the village of Westmont, IL outside of Chicago.  David and I moved here a little over two years ago from God’s country- you know, the south!  I had dreaded moving to Chicago for every reason I could rant about.  A Southern Gal through and through, I couldn’t imagine moving to the mid-west.  Cold? Are you kidding?  Big City?  Been there , done that before so no thank you!  Miles away from my kids?  Inconceivable!  I wouldn’t be able to keep my “hovering helicopter” on idle so far away prepared to swoop in whenever I felt I was needed.  (Notice I said “I” and not “They” since I figure I always know what my kids need!)

Wonder of wonders, I love it.  Westmont is like a blast from the past.  It feels like “Mayberry R.F.D” mid-western style.  Friendly, caring and down to earth.  Then there are the festivals everywhere, restaurants aplenty and the city of Chicago just 30 minutes away.  Oh, did I mention the snow?  Lake Michigan?  The abundant nature preserves?  Snowshoeing?

I love it all!

But…

No one told me about one of Chicagoland’s cutest little pests!

Photo credit: Don DeBold

Soon after we moved in we began having nightly viewings of a cute skunk.  He would walk along our back fence on the way to his den (next door I am sure) after prowling the neighborhood.  I enjoyed watching him (or her) every night never imaging I would ever have a close encounter.  Yep, sure enough within a few months I did.  Ugh!

I had let Moe (our dog) out for the last time one night and forgot to put the porchlights on. Suddenly, I heard both a hissing noise and Moe barking furiously.  Before I could think, Moe charged into the house.  Good golly Miss Molly, you cannot imagine the smell that followed her in!

Seriously, if you have ever smelled skunk spray you know what I am talking about.  Words cannot describe the odor.  And speaking of odor, it lingers and lingers and lingers – everywhere.  Two months later, my kids were visiting for Thanksgiving and they could smell it – when they opened a cabinet or a closet and even on Moe when she got wet on a walk in a preserve.  Just ask Brent, my daughter Sammi’s husband.  He still talks about the ghastly smell!

Nothing I used got the odor out.  Period.  It took months for the smell to leave on its own.

Pepe’ Le Pew Strikes Again

So, a year goes by.  We were still enjoying watching Pepe’ on his nightly walks back to his den having excused his bad behavior for spraying Moe.  He was “cute little Pepe’” again.  Then, one night we came home late and I let Moe out. Big mistake!

Evidently Pepe’ was having a late night snack in our yard and Moe startled him.

Sprayed again!

The next day I was telling the manager of the dry cleaners about it.  She mentioned a product I should buy as she had heard it was the best odor eliminator for skunk smell.  Well, I left the cleaners and headed straight for Whole Foods.  I bought several containers of crystal gels and the Multi-purpose Additive. I put Moe in the shower and doused the area of her neck that she had been sprayed on with the additive and let it really soak in.  Guess what?  It worked!  The containers of the crystal gels I distributed around the house~ anywhere I knew the odor had permeated.

Now I use Fresh Wave for everything.  I use the small packets of the crystals in the car and in sports bags.  (I wish this had been around when my son, Jimmy played hockey- boy did his bag smell!)  There are candles, sprays and even carpet powders.  You name it Fresh Wave has a product for the odor.  And, the added bonus is that it is all-natural.

Try it and let me know what you think!  And remember, how your home smells is the first impression of your homespace that greets you as you enter the door.   Heed my advice and use Fresh Wave in your home.

Moe thinks you should!!!

Photo credit: David Solganik