A furniture showroom supplied the problem that became Bougie Alchemist’s Wood Love.
The furniture came before the cleaner. Maria Greco’s family wanted something it could use on the solid-wood pieces in The Rustic Loft, its furniture showroom, and that search became Bougie Alchemist’s Wood Love.
“Wood Love actually came about out of necessity,” Greco said in an email interview with Debjo’s Boutique. “Our family has a background in cabinetry, furniture building, and design. We also own a furniture showroom, The Rustic Loft.”
Wood Love, with orange and mint. Photo: Angela Moraca.
“We’re surrounded by beautiful solid wood furniture every day, and we wanted a cleaning product that we could feel confident using on the pieces we sell,” Greco said. “Something that would clean well without changing the natural look or finish of the wood or without heavy oils or waxes.”
“We couldn’t find exactly what we were looking for, so we decided to make our own,” she said.
“We spent over a year testing and refining different formulas until we finally created one we loved,” Greco said. The showroom and wood shop gave the family places to use it.
What the family reports using
Greco’s formulation account identifies the scent as well as the cleaners: “We use plant-based cleaners and orange and mint essential oils, so it not only cleans beautifully but smells amazing too.” The company’s ingredient list and directions are available on its Wood Love product page.
“We’ve now been using Wood Love for over two years throughout our showroom and in our wood shop on all kinds of wood, including oak, reclaimed oak, maple, elm, walnut, and hickory,” Greco said in the October 8 interview. That is her account of the family’s use, rather than an independent performance test.
The finish decides
“Wood Love is intended for sealed, finished wood surfaces,” Greco said. “We recommend avoiding raw, unfinished, or unsealed wood, along with delicate, damaged, or compromised finishes.”
Her instructions begin by checking that surface. “We recommend making sure your furniture has a sealed, finished surface,” Greco said. “It’s also always a good idea to test a small, inconspicuous area first, especially on a piece you really love.”
“For everyday cleaning, we recommend spraying Wood Love onto a soft microfiber cloth, then simply wipe the surface, following the direction of the wood grain,” Greco said.
“If needed, you can follow with a clean, dry cloth,” she said.
The cloth-first sequence is Greco’s recommendation for everyday use.
Wood Love on a finished tabletop. Photo: Bougie Alchemist.
Greco later clarified that her recommendation extends beyond the furniture the family sells. “Wood Love is purchased and used by customers throughout the country regardless of where they purchased their furniture so it’s not exclusive to only our wood furniture, but made for all finished wood in the home,” she said. Her clarification includes finished solid-wood kitchen cabinets and consoles; the finish exclusions and test instructions still apply.
Read Wood Love’s ingredients and directions at Bougie Alchemist before using it on a compatible finished surface.
This feature is based on an email interview with Maria Greco of Bougie Alchemist. Product descriptions, reported experience and the suggested routine are attributed to her and the company.