Methods for making wet gels and dried gels therefrom are provided. The method for making a wet gel can include combining a hydroxybenzene compound, an aldehyde compound, and an additive to produce a reaction mixture. The additive can include a carboxylic acid, an anhydride, a homopolymer, a copolymer, or any mixture thereof. At least the hydroxybenzene compound and the aldehyde compound can be reacted to produce a wet gel. The reaction mixture can include about 10 wt % to about 65 wt % of the hydroxybenzene compound, about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % of the aldehyde compound, up to about 85 wt % of the carboxylic acid, up to about 40 wt % of the anhydride, up to about 40 wt % of the homopolymer, and up to about 40 wt % of the copolymer, where weight percent values are based on the combined weight of the hydroxybenzene compound, the aldehyde compound, and the additive.