Frequently Asked Questions

What are enzymes?

Enzymes are active proteins found in all living matter, people, animals and plants. They are not living organisms themselves. The only things that are alive are the cells that create or produce the enzymes. Enzymes are crucial to basic life processes. If you could look into a cell, you would find a multitude of enzymes directing traffic or processes to keep that cell alive. Without enzymes there would be no life on Earth.

What do enzymes do?

There are literally thousands of different enzymes and they usually have a very specific function or task that they perform. We have enzymes in our saliva to help convert foods to sugar and help it slide down more easily into the stomach for digestion. Then different enzymes take over various facets of the digestion process and convert or breakdown that food into the fuel and nutrients our bodies need to function. Enzymes are nature’s way of processing, kick starting or breaking things down. Most will agree that nature is far better than manmade chemicals or manmade solutions in producing things without harming the environment. Protein researchers and microbiologists have said one simple way to explain what an enzyme does is Whenever in nature one substance is transformed into another, enzymes will be involved. There’s a vast amount of scientific information and research readily available for those who have a real appetite for information. Prepare to be inundated with information. Today some people spend their entire careers researching and developing enzymes for commercial use. Enzymes have demonstrated they make better use of raw materials, save water and energy and almost always replace toxic chemicals in real life applications. These include a host of products with decades of proven performance from medical products and treatment to septic tanks and wastewater applications.

Do you use the same enzymes in every product?

No, you may have read above that usually enzymes have a very specific function or job they do. At DDW, we formulate our products to do very specific jobs very well. An example would be our laundry products. Our regular laundry contains a number of different types of enzymes along with other ingredients. We have enzymes whose sole purpose would be to clean and eliminate protein stains like blood without the use of chemicals or prespotting and others to breakdown or remove the chemicals in your washer or dryer that might contribute to UV glow. Other enzymes break down odors or things like a grass stain. Our laundry and scent control products are biological not chemical based formulations. Chemical residue is one of the more common ways to reintroduce brighteners or chemicals that cause UV glow.

Can any enzyme be used for scent control?

Absolutely not, if you refer back to what enzymes are and what they do it will help you understand that while there are thousands of enzymes they all have very specific functions or jobs that they do. Enzymes are very specialized. Finding the right enzymes is just part of the puzzle. Some enzymes only perform their jobs at certain temperatures or when a specific set of environmental conditions exist. Even within odor eliminating enzymes there are varying performance factors or environmental conditions, temperatures or delivery methods to consider. Protein researchers are still uncovering new applications. In the textile industry, enzymes can replace the strong acids used to prepare fabrics for dyeing. Have you ever thought about why that UV glow in the dyeing process is there. Enzymes may ultimately eliminate the acids and chemicals that cause the UV glow in the dyeing process.

Are enzymes safe?

Enzymes are a product of nature found in all living things. Research shows enzymes are safer and better for the environment than chemical or manmade alternatives. Today they are used extensively in animal feeds, wastewater treatment and many products we use in our everyday lives perhaps without even knowing it. Such as probiotic supplement and yogurt, enzymes are even used in the brewing of beer and many hunters consider that safe. When used correctly, enzymes are a natural solution proven safer than virtually any chemical alternative.

How do enzymes work in scent control?

Ahhh, let’s see if we can give you a touch of the technical and then simplify it without giving away DDW proprietary information. The general nature of an enzyme is one as a biological catalyst. Enzymes catalyze chemical reactions in the cells of living organisms. As a catalyst they can change, transform, break up or even fragment a molecular structure like odor.

If you want the short answer, enzymes are catalysts for reactive change. They change the game or molecular structure of odor. For a longer answer click here.

Can I use your laundry products in an HE washer?

Yes, in fact all of our laundry products were formulated with High Efficiency washers as one of the key product objectives. HE washers save energy, save water and are essentially the new platform for performance. Many of the hunting laundry products will cause maintenance or performance issues in a HE washer. With DDW you are good to go and in some HE washers you can actually save even more by using up to 25% less DDW detergent per full load. That’s a benefit of HE washers efficiency.

Scent Tip - Freezing and Extreme Heat MYTHBUSTER

As with almost any consumer or liquid product you should never let that product freeze. After the season is over, store your remaining hunting and scent control products in an area that will not allow it to freeze. Freezing essentially renders most products useless. Freezing in a biological product causes the cell structure to expand and fracture or break up.

And for the south Texas hog hunters, here is another tip. On days you are planning to hunt hogs after work or just want to be ready, don’t carry your field spray around in your truck. A vehicle parked on an asphalt lot in 100 degree heat can get up to 140 degrees or higher during the course of a day. Extreme heat damages or diminishes the effectiveness of most biological products.

I read an article several months ago that said enzymes created their own odor and had actually been used as a deer repellent. Is that true?

Easy question and simple answer, absolutely false and totally misleading.

Sadly there a number of people who profess to be experts that pass on either completely false or totally misleading information.

There was an article written in BUCKMASTERS magazine quoting a so called expert and director of technology at another company. This is an excerpt from that article “Some soaps contain active ingredients or enzymes. These are living organisms that cause their own odor,” Jordan said. To which we reply, back to the drawing board Mr. Jordan. Enzymes are not living organisms nor do they cause their own odor, we suggest you make a real effort to get your facts straight when presenting yourself as a credible Director of Technology. The author of that same article went on to take a shot at enzymes under the heading Selecting Soap. The following is an excerpt from that same article by the author. “When it comes to soap, serious bowhunters should never use anything but soaps designed specifically for scent suppression. Virtually all of the soaps you can buy at the local supermarket contain non-cleaning additives like moisturizers, perfumes and enzymes. In fact many state fish and game agencies give out small bars of these soaps to landowners with deer depredation problems because they are such effective deer repellents.” When we contacted the author about the accuracy of those statements we were told that he knew an agency that used Ivory soap at one time. When questioned, the author didn’t know of a single enzyme ever used as a repellent. The author also stated that enzymes were a non-cleaning additive which is actually totally false. Enzymes are used extensively in detergents and soaps specifically as a cleaning additive.

After we did a little digging, we found the author and editor of the magazine had received a free hunt from the same company Mr. Jordan works for and could even be found on their website video endorsing his product. Sad but true, sometimes we have to question the information or the credibility of the so called experts. They suggested we write a letter to the editor to set the record straight. Yeah, like that’s a good idea given the editor appears on their website endorsing Mr. Jordan’s product. Well we aren’t just going to let slide. False and totally misleading material in a national publication is not good journalism. Nor does it inform and educate the hunter.

Is Dead Down Wind effective against other odors?

All of our products have been engineered for the best possible odor control without using biocides, harsh chemicals or heavy metals. Unlike other products that try to cover up or use chemicals with antimicrobial properties, Dead Down Wind places a primary focus on skin care and health. It is our bodies largest organ and can act like a canary in a mine shaft. That makes them not only effective but safe to use as an everyday product. We think Buzz says it well. “I just want to let you know that your Body and Hair Shampoo is not only good for scent control. I am a contractor and have to work in Hog Barns. If you have ever been in a Hog Barn the smell does not come off. Your product will remove the smell in one application. My wife thanks you for such a good product. Thank You." Roger ‘Buzz' Spencer, Indiana.

Why does DDW rely so heavily on science and test their products for as long as two years before they're released?

Because hunters like Joe may invest several years and a number of trials before he settles on one and we take that very seriously. “Hi, my name is Joseph Holcomb. I live in Minnesota and just wanted to take a minute to say thanks for making such a great product. I had tried many others over the past 3-4 years in many different hunting situations and I can't say enough about yours. So thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks again for such a great product! Your Fellow Hunter, Joseph J. Holcomb” Thanks for writing Joseph.