A gel by any other name...

A gel by any other name...might smell slightly different, but is still the same gel. 

Over at the Wavy Hair Community, we discovered something.  Aussie Instant Freeze Gel, Aussie Awesome Volume Gel, Herbal Essences Set Me Up Gel, and Pantene Smooth Definition Hair Gel are all virtually the same gel.  I put the ingredients that are different in the formulas in bold print.  These ingredients are mostly just extracts, which generally don't do much.  Three of the four look alike gels list panthenol as the very last ingredient.  Other then fragrance, all the ingredients not in bold are exactly the same and listed in the same order. 

Aussie Instant  Freeze Gel:  water, laureth 23, ppolyquaternium 4, hydroxyethylcellulose, benzyl alcohol, acrylates/beheneth 25 methacrylate copolymer, aminomethyl propanol, dmdm hydantoin, acrylates copolymer, fragrance, disodium edta, prunus serotina bark extract (wild cherry), humulus lupulus extract (hops), hedychium coronarium root extract (australian white ginger), panthenol

Aussie Awesome Volume Gel:   Water, Laureth 23, Polyquaternium 4, Hedychium Coronarium Extract (Australian White Ginger), Prunus Serotina (Wild Cherry) Bark Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Hydroxycellulose, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/Beheneth 25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, DMDM Hydantoin, Acrylates Copolymer, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol

Herbal Essences Set Me Up Gel: Water, Laureth 23, Polyquaternium 4, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract (Cactus), Fragrance, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/Beheneth 25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, DMDM Hydantoin, Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium EDTA

Pantene Smooth Definition Hair Gel:  Water, Laureth 23, Polyquaternium 4, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/Beheneth 25, Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Amino Methyl Propanol, DMDM Hydantoin, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Panthenol

Proctor and Gamble owns the brands Herbal Essences, Aussie, and Pantene.   This isn't the first time these companies have produced look alike products.  They've done it with mousse. 
Curl Talk Thread on look alike mousse.  See posts 21 &25 on page 2.
And they have done it with conditioner. 
Beauty Brains:  Are you cheated when the company sells you the same product under a different name?
If you like a product from Aussie, Herbal Essences, or Pantene, you may want to check the other brands to see if they have the same formulation for less or with a scent you prefer.  If there is a product you hate, make sure you aren't buying it again under another name.