I can thank my mother for having the nose of a bloodhound, and while this keen sense of smell is a blessing, it’s also a curse, especially when it comes time to cooking. I live in a pre-war apartment with no exhaust fans in my kitchen, which means cooking odors linger in my home for days, even with my windows flung wide open and my air purifier running at full blast. Never a fan of headache-inducing candles or room sprays that rarely do more than mask smells, I was eager to try this curious jar of gel that absorbs odors from the air rather than attempting to cover them.The Fresh Wave odor-removing gel contains natural, plant-based ingredients that attract airborne odor molecules, bind to them and then neutralize them from the environment, according to the brand. While I don’t know the science behind odor molecules nor what gets rid of them, I was most interested in testing this brand claim on my most detested household smells: the smoky and meaty odor of a steak after it’s been fried in the skillet.Though perhaps a delectable smell to most, the aroma of cooked meat is the bane of my existence and, for some reason, the hardest to get out of my home. I’m talking days. I usually end up closing every single door of the apartment so the smell doesn’t get on my clothing or bedding. So, per Fresh Wave’s directions, I cracked open the lid of one of the jars before cooking my steak, removed the foil seal, and placed it on the ledge of my stove, right in line with my cast iron skillet. Upon first whiff, the gel had a really fresh and clean lemon scent (there are four in total to choose from) that wasn’t overpowering or too artificial-smelling. And while I could certainly still smell the steak after I had finished cooking and cleaned the dishes, it wasn’t nearly as strong as it would usually have been. And after a few hours, it was barely noticeable. I even left my apartment and came back just to make sure my nose hadn’t acclimated to the odor and was simply unable to detect its disappearance. This clever and incredibly low-maintenance product isn’t just useful for cooking smells. It can also be used in bathrooms, stale-smelling cupboards and baby rooms where diaper pails may be. When it’s not being used in my kitchen, I actually move this jar into the cabinet where my cat’s litter box is to eradicate any type of urine odor since it’s pet-safe. One reviewer said they even used the Fresh Wave to successfully eliminate one of the most potent and stubborn odors of all: cigarette smoke. While others claim it “works better than anything I’ve tried.”Each jar lasts up to 60 days, and after that, you can buy a carton of fresh gel to refill your existing container. And you’ll know when it’s time to replace your stash, because the gel reduces in size and dries out. You might find yourself wanting to snag a few of the Fresh Wave gels to place in each room of your home, or keep reading to see why so many are grateful for this odor-absorbing solution. Promising Amazon reviews:“Great solution for 100 years of stink. This worked really well for us. We put it in a VERY STINKY under-the-stairs cabinet of our 100+ year old house. It is 80% better, after a few refills. I tried other products like baking soda and charcoal that didn’t make a dent. I’m impressed.” — Amazon customer“RV black and grey tanks can create some vile odors inside the RV. This completely removes the odors within minutes. I purchased the lemon scent and it’s a very light scent, which is nice because strong fragrances cause allergies and headaches for me and this product does neither. It doesn’t cover up the odor with another scent - it’s removes the odor. This is day two of using the product and I can no longer smell the lemon but most importantly, the foul odors are gone. I plan on buying more to put near my cat’s litter box and to keep on hand to keep my home odor free. Highly recommend!!!” — M. McCrae”Works better than anything I’ve tried. Honestly the only thing about parenting 2 kids under the age of 4 was the number of smells I’d be dealing with. Did someone hide a cheese stick somewhere? Does a diaper need changing? Did the baby barf somewhere? There’s just always a smell. No matter how much I clean I always can smell something. Yet I didn’t want to spray a bunch of chemicals around for my babies to inhale. After reading many reviews I decided to try this. I don’t know how it works but it does. I will admit the lemon scent was very much like citronella when I first opened it but the smell dissipated quickly and now everything just smells neutral. It’s been a little over a week and I ordered the huge refill size of the original scent. I’m putting it everywhere!” — Kerri“We had someone come live with us for 4 months. She left behind a terrible putrid odor that permeated throughout our whole house. I tried airing out the room, a room purifier, incense, and candles to no avail. I received this product yesterday and the smell has already decreased significantly. I bought the original scent and it doesn’t have a strong odor. So far so good, and I’m very impressed by how well this product works.” — NCProfIf you want to shop for more effective solutions to household odors of all kinds, take a look at the products below:AmazonLevoit Core 300-P air purifierIt doesn't get much more popular or highly rated than this sleek Levoit purifier. It's a super-effective HEPA filtration system that not only targets pollutants like smog and smoke, but also pet dander, hair, allergens and of course odors throughout your home. It features stand-out details like a soft and quiet night mode and the ability to turn the LED light off so you can run it while you sleep without being disturbed by additional brightness. It’s suited for rooms up to 1,095 square feet. Time and again, it's the top-purchased purifier for HuffPost readers. It's available in two colors.AmazonA pack of six charcoal odor absorbing bagsThese activated charcoal bundles act as air purifiers and odor absorbers and can last up to two years. They're made with low-grade charcoal chunks that are porous and effective. The bags are small and easy to tuck into places that harbor smells, like closets, pantries, shoes, cars, gym bags, trash cans and more. You can rejuvenate them by putting them out in the sun for a couple of hours monthly, ensuring they last long and are worth the investment. it's an easy, non-toxic way to keep the air in your home fresh, even if it's full of stinky animals and kids. Promising review: "This product is terrific! I put two packs in our bathroom and the mystery odor was gone within two days. Same with dog crates—I’d give it more stars if I could!" — KatydidAmazonA lavender-scented enzyme cleanerThis enzyme cleaner is formulated to "eat away" odors caused by common animal messes, whether it's urine, poop, puke and beyond. It does have a reviewer-approved lavender smell, but it doesn't cover up stinkiness; it works to fully eliminate it. Promising review: "This stuff is amazing! My cat marks her territory from time to time and I've tried every product and process I could find to remove the smell. Most recently, she decided to spray my couch and I knew it was going to be near impossible to remove. I washed the cushions, covered them in baking soda and left them outside to air out but it didn't help one bit. Then, in desperation, I decided to try this stuff. All it took was one good spray down with this product and there is not even a hint of cat scent. My husband even asked me what I used because he can't smell a thing.And it smells so good that I sprayed it on my other furniture just to freshen it. I'm ordering a second bottle now just in case this happens again!" — Shantelly Lace