I've used it, and like it fine, but I've never used it in the situation you describe. On tough areas, I usually use a BIN or KILZ primer in that spot. Water-based unless it's really bad (like wood knots) and in that case oil-based.

I use it every time I paint. I love it. However, I agree with Stacey that you may need a stain-blocking primer and I am not sure Fresh Start is what you need. I suggest to go to your BM store and ask the people there. At least around here, BM is only sold through reputable dealers, i.e., hardware stores or home dec places. People there usually know what they are talking about. Good luck!

I love it...and have used it...but wouldn't use it over smoke damage. For something sooty/greasy/stinky (like a kitchen fire) I was with tsp, rinse twice, and prime with the stinky (not water based) Kilz or Bin.

I recall there being at least three types of fresh start primer, acrylic and oil based. So choose carefully; IMO they are all above average products with a fine track record, if you use the appropriate one.
Casey

Once I deviated from my preferred Zinsser Bullseye 123 and used Fresh Start. In our family room, tinted to match the top coat color. Not a bad primer, IMO, no issues and it's been 6, 7 years or so.

This is where you're going to have to go to a specialty product:
Will it cover a light smoke/soot from a ceiling (had minor flare-up on cooktop)

We have a rental property that was absolutely trashed by candle soot. Walls, carpet, tile grout, etc. I still can't get the soot out of the vinyl of the newer window frames, just sucked that soot right up. DH tried to scrub the walls with Dirtex or Soilax (standard paint prep cleaners we use). It removes most everything pretty well (including cooking grease) but areas soot was worst all it did was smear it around and it left the wall slick -like wax paper. Doubt any all purpose latex primer would have adhered. Ideally we should have used a shop vac first, then one of those dry sponges for smoke/soot damage. Anyway, we got it cleaned as best we could & on advice of our local paint dealer we ended up sealing walls with BIN. It's shellac based, for fire & smoke damage, etc. Then top coat over that. In a few months it will be 4 years, the paint is holding up just fine everywhere, no issues, looks good.

Were it me, I'd probably use the BIN in your entire kitchen just to be safe.

Thanks, Mooonshadow. That is what I am going to do. I don;t want to waste my painter's time (or mine) and use a product that is not specific for soot damage. Like you, I immediately attempted to remove the soot with Lestoil and water...it smeared terribly. I did not know soot could only be removed by those chem sponges (which I learned when meeting with the fire restoration companies). I just could not stand the site of the soot and had to attempt a clean-up prior to going to bed!!!! So now I am left with a smeary-soot mess. I think I will get some of the Bin at my local BM store.

You're welcome! It will turn out fine. (Know what you mean about the urge to clean it. I've had small areas come clean, like a bathroom corner and just a bit of the ceiling from a candle on a toilet tank. But this was something else. So bad I had to ban any candles in leases after that. :o )