Cars have a way of picking up scents over time, whether it’s eau de gym bag or a lingering waft of fast food. The best car fresheners can help banish odors while leaving a clean, fresh scent in their wake. Our top choice is the Febreze Unstopables Car Odor-Fighting Car Freshener Vent Clip for its gentle smell and affordable price tag, but there are several other great options that made our list.
The best car fresheners can eliminate recurring odors from things like gym bags, sports equipment, ... [+] pet odors and food-related smells. Diffuser Essential Oil
“Anyone struggling with persistent odors such as cigarette smoke; odors that linger even after an otherwise thorough surface cleaning; or recurring odors from things like gym bags and other sports equipment, pet odors and food odors can benefit from using an air freshener,” says Michael Stoops, senior global product and training specialist at car detailing company Meguiar’s.
Keep in mind that a freshener can’t fix a bad smell if there’s a problem with your car, like if the interior needs to be cleaned or your air conditioning filter needs replacement. “It can only be used to improve the smell in the vehicle once the vehicle is clean of all contaminants,” says Petar Dzaja, founder of Car Detailing Planet.
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a car freshener, including what scent you prefer, the style of freshener that’s optimal for your setup and how long you want your freshener to last. With that in mind, these are the best car fresheners out there.
Type: Vent clip | Scent: Fresh | Lifespan: 30 days
Febreze is a known brand in the odor-fighting world, and the company has extended its reach to the auto market. These fresheners clip onto your vents to gently disperse the brand’s Fresh scent when your air conditioning or heat is on, so you don’t need to try to peer around a tree hanging from your rearview mirror. Each clip-on—you get three in a pack—offers up to 30 days of scent, offering an impressive 90 days of coverage. It’s also adjustable, allowing you to dial from low to high intensity when the need strikes. If the scent of fresh laundry isn’t for you, the brand has other options, including Linen & Sky, Paradise and Island Fresh.
Type: Vent clip | Scent: Bais | Lifespan: 90 days
Diptyque, the fragrance company beloved by royalty, also makes car fresheners. While the $100+ price tag may be out of range for some, there are even more staunch devotees of the brand’s signature scents. The freshener uses a specialized system of cold diffusion to help gently release Diptyque’s popular Bais scent—a mix of blackcurrant leaves and rose blossoms. The diffuser clips into your car vent and has an adjustable metal grill to allow you to control how much scent is released at once. The diffuser is reusable: Once the fragrance runs out, you can swap in any Diptyque cartridge.
Type: Can| Scent: Coronado Cherry | Lifespan: 60 days
The massively popular California Scents Can Air Freshener lasts 60 days—an impressive lifespan for something that costs a mere $3 per can. The freshener is easy to use: Just open the can and place it under your seat or in a cup holder, where it will gently release its fragrance. Each can is spill-proof, so you don’t have to stress about getting it all over your interior. Choose from a range of scents, including Coronado Cherry, Monterey Vanilla, Desert Jasmine or La Jolla Lemon.
Type: Pod | Scent: Squash Fresh | Lifespan: 30 days
The Air Spencer CS-X3 is a little different from most other fresheners you’ll find on the market. It features an outer cassette-style case that you stick on your dashboard for constant scent diffusion. The signature fragrance is easily adjustable by moving the attached louvre, and reviewers swear it delivers a strong scent when cranked up to high. The kit comes with double-sided tape to mount the freshener, along with a refill. Technically, you can place this anywhere you please (in your car or beyond).
Type: Sachet | Scent: Lavender| Lifespan: 30 days
Mrs. Meyer’s has built a name on creating quality cleaning products that are free of gunk you don’t want. The brand’s scents have built up a cult following, and now your car can smell like them, too. This diffuser is made from repurposed wood beads and and essentials oils to deliver a fresh lavender scent (or several other signature scents from Mrs. Meyer’s). It’s free of phthalates and artificial colors, and has an ingredients list you can pronounce. Pop the disk in your cupholder, hang it from your rearview mirror or place it on your dashboard to get the full effect.
Type: Fogger | Scent: New Car | Lifespan: NA
Smoke has an unfortunate ability to penetrate nearly ever aspect of your car, making it a difficult scent to remove. Meguiar's Whole Car Air Refresher has special technology that targets odor-causing molecules and permanently removes them, while swapping in a new scent. To use the freshener, close all your windows, turn your air conditioner on high, hit the recirculate button, flip on the car freshener and close all the doors. Let it get to work for up to 15 minutes before airing out your car. It will tackle stubborn smoke smells and leave a new car scent in its wake.
Type: Vent wrap | Scent: Black Ice; Sandalwood, Bergamot and Lemon | Lifespan: 15 days
These little vent wraps are massively popular at Amazon, where reviewers rave about everything from their ease of use to great scents. The fresheners are largely hidden from view—they “wrap” around one of your vents to deliver consistent scent. You get four per pack, putting the wraps at under $3 a piece. While the wraps don’t have the longest scent-delivering ability out there—15 days per wrap—they’re inexpensive and easy to swap out. Choose from the brand’s signature Black Ice scent or the fresh Sandalwood, Bergamot and Lemon fragrance.
Type: Spray | Scent: New Car | Lifespan: NA
The new car smell is unique and distinct but, unfortunately, it doesn’t last as your car gets older. Recapture your car’s signature scent with this spray from Chemical Guys. It features both odor eliminators to take out unwanted smells while infusing a leathery new car scent back in. To use it, turn your air conditioner on blast and recirculation mode, and then spray the scent into the passenger footwell. It will circulate all over, zapping odors and leaving fragrance in its wake.
To choose the best car fresheners, we consulted two car detailing experts for their input on what to look for in these handy tools. We then analyzed the market, looking for the most popular fresheners that deliver a powerful and pleasing scent, and last for a respectable amount of time relative to their price tag. Reviews from real owners were also considered to ensure we had the best view on how these fresheners perform across a range of cars and situations.
There’s a surprisingly large range on the market when it comes to car fresheners. Consider these elements while you shop.
Classic car fresheners hung from your rear view mirror and gently dispersed scent over time. While those still exist, there are plenty of other car freshener types to choose from. Some fresheners, like our top choice, the Febreze Unstopables Car Odor-Fighting Car Freshener Vent Clip, clip onto a car vent to give off a scent along with the air that circulates in your car. Others, like the California Scents Can Air Freshener come in a can that you can place in a cup holder or under your seat. Sprays are also a popular choice—they allow you to simply spritz your car whenever it needs a refresh. If you’re dealing with stubborn scents, a fogger like the Meguiar's Whole Car Air Refresher can help neutralize odors in 15 minutes or so.
The right scent for your car freshener ultimately comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer floral scents, while others like something more musky. The Little Trees Car Freshener Vent Wrap comes in a unique Black Ice scent that Amazon reviewers rave about. Mrs. Meyer’s, the cleaning company with scents that have earned an army of fans, also offers its signature fragrances in its car fresheners. The new-car smell is a popular option, too.
Not everyone wants a car freshener that will last forever, but you can generally expect most of these products to continue to give off a fragrance between 15 and 30 days. However, the California Scents Can Air Freshener offers up a scent for 60 days, while the luxurious Diptyque Car Diffuser will give off the brand’s signature fragrance for up to 90 days. Every freshener is different, though—it’s best to read the label before purchasing.
The most effective air freshener for your car ultimately depends on your goals. If you’re looking for a gentle scent to enhance what your car already smells like, an option such as the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Car Diffuser is a good choice. If you’re desperate to get out an intense scent—and your car interior is actually clean—a fogger like the Meguiar's Whole Car Air Refresher can get your car up to speed again quickly. But for most car interior scent needs, we like the Febreze Unstopables Car Odor-Fighting Car Freshener Vent Clip. It’s affordable, clips onto your vent and has a nice, fresh scent that’ll mask odors but isn’t overpowering.
While a car freshener can help boost the scent of your interior, it’s important to make sure you’ve taken care of underlying problems first that may be causing an odor in your car. “Air fresheners can't fix bad smell in your car if there's some problem with the vehicle—dirty car, spills, stains, air conditioning filter needs replacement, there are bugs in your car...,” Djaza says. That’s why it’s important to regularly maintain the interior of your car. That includes wiping down the seats, vacuuming the floors and cleaning the vents. If something happens to be spilled in the car, it’s crucial to clean it up afterward to lower the risk of stains—and odors—from forming.
It depends. “There’s no specific scent that most dealers and detailers use,” Djaza says. “However, most of them will use something that's not too strong, and that gives you a feeling similar to one in a new car.” If a car dealer is selling a pre-owned vehicle, they will likely use a freshener that deodorizes in addition to creating a scent. However, select upscale auto makers have their own signature scent. Some Rolls Royce models have a proprietary fragrance, while Nissan has its own signature scent.
I'm a wealth reporter focusing on entertainment. I previously worked Forbes' news desk and as a features reporter at the New York Post, where I covered pop culture, and at the Boston Globe and Boston.com I graduated from Emerson College in 2017 with a degree in journalism. Follow me on Twitter @MarisaDellatto or reach out at mdellatto@forbes.com.
I'm a wealth reporter focusing on entertainment. I previously worked Forbes' news desk and as a features reporter at the New York Post, where I covered pop culture, and at the Boston Globe and Boston.com I graduated from Emerson College in 2017 with a degree in journalism. Follow me on Twitter @MarisaDellatto or reach out at mdellatto@forbes.com.
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