Some carmakers put a fragrance in the airbags to help paint the inside of the cabin for buyers. the idea is that by installing these perfumed airbags, potential customers will be more likely to buy a new vehicle because it smells fresher than used cars do.
aside from putting perfume in their airbag system, some brands also inject this particular perfume into their headliners and insoles just before assembly of each car. others have started to use synthetic aromas mixed with substances which are found naturally in some aromatic plants or various techniques such as laser projections on interior surfaces that create an aroma over time. these can vary from scent compositions based on materials like wool or leather, through petrol scents reminiscent of luxury vehicles,
how can i get the new-car smell?
not all new-car smells are created equal. for instance, some car models or manufacturers emit a strong chemical odor that can be off putting to many; these car categories we recommend avoiding for this reason.
the best and most common culprits of the new-car smell (and most generally pleasant) is actually leather upholstery and carpets. these materials give off mild scents akin to vanilla beans when new, but given time they will harden from oils on our skin causing them to lose their delicate bouquet for something more pronounced. leather often only needs a light dusting while carpets may need professional service if not vacuumed regularly—or at least spot cleaned with a grease cutter/pet stain remover
is there any air freshener that really smells like new car?
all air fresheners, whether they claim to smell like a new car or not, generally can't mask all odors. one problem is that what you might think of as “new-car” smell is actually the way leather smells. and unfortunately, air freshener manufacturers haven't been able to recreate the smoky yet sweet odor for which cars are famous—yet!
so if your goal was to make it seem like your old beater never lived on a dirt road for ten years and made its rounds on the chain gang before being recruited into street racing competitions at full throttle with your friends from high school—well then, i'm sorry but taillight fluid just doesn't go as far as a car scent
