New car smell is one of the most recognizable and desirable features of a new vehicle. But where exactly does that scent come from? The answer has its roots in chemistry, consumer psychology, and decades of automotive industry research on how to best market and sell cars.
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The Origin of New Car Smell
New car smell is the result of a specific chemical reaction called “off-gassing.” When manufactured, vehicles are constructed using various plastics, adhesives, rubbers, and insulating and sound-deadening materials. These products are not 100% solid but contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that easily evaporate at room temperature.
When a car first rolls off the assembly line, these VOCs begin evaporating and filling the cabin space. This gaseous mixture produces the scent commonly known as new car smell. The largest sources of off-gassing in new vehicles are:
- Upholstery
- Plastic consoles and trim
- Vinyl seating
- Carpet
But new car smell originates during vehicle production, not at dealerships. By the time a completed car arrives at a dealership lot, most of the interior VOCs have already evaporated. This is why used cars no longer have that signature scent unless scent packs are used to artificially re-create it.
Why New Car Smell Is Appealing
For most car buyers, new car smell is an enjoyable, attractive feature of driving a new vehicle off the lot. There are a few psychological and physiological reasons for this:
- Association with luxury – Historically, only wealthier individuals could afford to purchase new cars frequently. New car smell became associated with prestige and financial security.
- Cleanliness – New car smell indicates the interior has not had time to accumulate odors from spills, pets, smoke, etc.
- Lack of use – The absence of wear, dirt, and imperfection is appealing to buyers.
- Chemical reactions – The VOCs prompting new car smell activate the same neurological pathways as pleasurable scents like flowers or baking bread.
Market research has reinforced that new car smell sells. One survey showed over 90% of new car buyers enjoyed the scent and would reconsider a purchase if the smell was too faint or absent.
How Dealerships Add New Car Smell
Since genuine new car smell dissipates quickly at dealerships, manufacturers have developed artificial scent solutions to spray inside recently sold vehicles. There are several ways car dealers can make cars smell new:
Aerosol Sprays
Aerosol new car scent sprays are the most popular option. Some major brands include:
- Liquid New Car Smell – An aerosol spray that replicates the scent.
- New Car Spill Magic – Designed to mimic the smell and absorb stains/odors.
- Odor Bomb New Car Scent – An aerosol spray with concentrated fragrance.
These spray cans contain various perfumes and synthetic VOCs to produce the expected interior smell. They are applied by spraying the headliner, carpets, seats, and plastic trim sections of a recently detailed vehicle.
Scent Packs
Scent packs are packets of scented balls or pads that clip onto air vents. As airflow passes through the vents, the granules gradually emit their fragrance. Popular products include:
- BioAir New Car Scent Cartridge – An air filter insert infused with fragrance.
- Refresh Packs – Cotton ball sachets infused with essential oils.
- Car Scents Vent Sticks – Scent packs on clips for air vents.
Scent packs provide adjustable, longer-lasting interior fragrance than sprays. However, they contain similar perfumes and take longer to emit their maximum scent. Packs also need periodic replacement.
Ozone Generators
Ozone generators actively purge all odors and scents from a vehicle’s cabin, leaving an odorless interior with a fresh scent. An ozone machine passes ozone gas into the car then circulates the air. The process effectively neutralizes odors, mold, bacteria, and allergens in the interior.
While all traces of scent are removed using ozone machines, some dealerships follow up with an aerosol spray to add back the expected new car smell.
Chemicals in New Car Smell
While pleasurable, artificially re-creating new car smell does fill a recently sold vehicle with additional chemicals. Many air fresheners and scent solutions contain concerning compounds such as:
- Formaldehyde – Linked to cancer and asthma.
- Benzene – A known carcinogen also associated with leukemia.
- Phthalates – Can disrupt hormones and reproductive systems.
- Acetaldehyde – A possible carcinogen according to EPA studies.
Repeated exposure to the chemicals in new car smell air fresheners has raised health concerns, especially for sensitive groups like children and the elderly. Only scent solutions certified non-toxic by reputable third parties are safest for all users.
Other Potential Health Effects
Beyond the risks from added fragrance chemicals, new car smell itself also carries health considerations. Studies have linked exposure to the VOCs responsible for genuine new car smell with:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation
These effects are most pronounced in confined spaces like automobiles. However, opening windows and airing out the interior can help dissipate the VOC concentration.
Makes and Models with Strong New Car Smells
Some auto manufacturers are known for producing vehicles with particularly potent new car smell levels stemming from higher VOC off-gassing. Makes and models most associated with overwhelming new car smell include:
| Make | Model |
|---|---|
| Ford | F-150 |
| Toyota | Camry |
| Honda | Civic |
| Nissan | Altima |
| Hyundai | Sonata |
| Kia | Optima |
Owners of these vehicles are most likely to detect a strong scent immediately after purchase. Other newly manufactured vehicles may have milder smells from lower VOC levels.
Reasons for Strong New Car Smell in These Models
A few factors contribute to excessive off-gassing and new car scent in the mentioned makes/models:
- High use of plastics – Interiors contain an abundance of PVC, ABS, and polyurethane.
- Adhesives – Parts are assembled using glues and adhesives with concentrated VOCs.
- Faster production – New cars roll off lines more rapidly, giving less time for VOCs to dissipate at the factory.
Manufacturing and assembly techniques for these high-volume models appear to retain more VOCs that are then released once vehicles arrive at dealerships.
Tips for Managing New Car Smell
For drivers buying a new car with an overpowering scent, there are a few methods to help reduce the odor intensity:
- Drive with windows open – Air circulation dissipates interior VOCs.
- Consider a cabin air filter – Filters like charcoal can capture VOCs.
- Use baking soda – Open boxes around the cabin to help absorb odors.
- Switch ventilation to recirculate – Recirculating interior air speeds dispersion of VOCs.
- Wait it out – New car smell fades over time as VOCs fully off-gas.
Severe cases may require professional detailing using ozone treatment to neutralize the scent. But for most owners, airing out the car and waiting a few weeks is enough to reduce new car smell to an enjoyable level.
Conclusion
The characteristic scent inside new cars originates from VOCs released through off-gassing of interior plastics, adhesives, and other synthetic components. Although chemically based, most drivers find the smell pleasing and associate it with luxury vehicles. To meet buyer expectations, dealerships artificially replicate new car smell using aerosol sprays, scent packs, or ozone generators after detailing vehicles. While exciting for owners, excessive levels of new car scent could potentially impact sensitive individuals due to high VOC concentrations. But allowing ample ventilation and drive time can temper the odor to enjoyable levels for drivers who are not sensitive.