A guide to car air fresheners and odor solutions

When you spend a lot of time in your car because of stop-and-go traffic you want the experience to be as pleasant as possible. Nothing can make ruin a commute faster than unpleasant smells or odors. A great smelling air freshener can make any errand a relaxing experience. If your car has funky smells or your pet has left behind unpleasant odors, we will explore 25 air fresheners for all your needs.

By Maurice Rodriguez
October 18, 2021

In this article we will talk about the longest-lasting car air fresheners, the different types depending on your needs, and some you may not know you needed. To my surprise, there are categories of air fresheners that were new to me, like natural air fresheners, and car bomb air fresheners for tough jobs.

Best Overall: Car Air Freshener

In this category, we are looking at air fresheners that are mostly passive and work by opening and letting them release their scent over time. They are usually inexpensive and can be placed over a car vent to provide immediate odor relief. They tend not to last very long and aren’t meant to tackle tough odors.

Frebreze Car air fresheners

Febreze Car air fresheners use Odor Clear Technology to clean odors and not just mask them. The scent lasts up to 30 days. These are the most popular with drivers because they are inexpensive and easily attach to your car vents and work by passing air over the air fresheners. The ease-to-see window lets you see when the liquid scent is empty. The Febreze Unstoppables did a really good job of eliminating strong pet odors.

The most popular scents are

• Hawaiian Aloha
• Midnight Storm
• Lavender
• Honey Peach

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Lasts 30 Days
• Lots of scents to pick from
• Easy to use. Just clip to your air vents

Cons:

• Not recyclable

Honorable mentions – Car Air Fresheners

Yankee candle car air freshener

The Yankee candle car air freshener comes in either a plastic jar that resembles a candle. No need to light this candle, it starts working when you open it. We found that although the scents are familiar Yankee candle scents the scents faded rather quickly and don’t last longer than two weeks. Which is quite disappointing considering how charming they look.

The most popular scents:

• Bahama Breeze
• Pink Sands
• Midsummer Night

Pros:

• Air Vent clips attach easy
• Made in the USA

Cons:

• Not a very strong scent
• The scent fades rather quickly

Little Trees Car Air freshener

Everyone who has ever owned a car is familiar with this iconic brand – Little Trees Car Air fresheners. These little scented paper trees have been around since 1952. They are headquartered in Watertown, New York. They are still manufactured in the good ol’ US of A. But these little trees have evolved into many scents other than the original pine scent. In fact, Little Trees has just about any solution to meet your needs like hanging air fresheners, canned air fresheners, vet clips, and sprays to accommodate any smelly situation. My favorite scent was America. In case you didn’t know America smells like Vanilla and Freedom.

The most popular scents:

• America – aka Vanilla
• Bayside Breeze
• Black Ice
• Bourdon
• Cotton Candy

Pros:

• The ORIGINAL Car Air Freshener
• Inexpensive
• Long lasting scent – 4 weeks
• Wide range of scents for any taste
• Little trees are Eco-friendly
• Universal Fit
• Made in the USA

Cons:

• Can be distracting hanging on rear view mirror
• Scent fades quickly

California Scents Air Freshener

The California Scents Air fresheners have very unique and very pleasant odors that will keep you coming back to try other scents. The spill-proof cans are eco-friendly and last up to 60 days. Unfortunately, these cans don’t come with odor control lids which makes controlling the scent much more difficult. Also, you are going to sacrifice a cup holder.

The most popular scents:

• Balboa Bubblegum
• Coronado Cherry

Pros:

• Spill-proof can
• Inexpensive
• Long-lasting scent – 60 days
• Wide range of scents of original scents
• Eco-friendly and Organic
• Universal Fit
• Made in the USA

Cons:

• Scent control lids are not included
• Uses up a drink holder spot

Tyler Candles Autoglam Auto Air Freshener, Diva

If you enjoy Tyler Diva Scented Candles and want to take that scent on the road then maybe this product is for you. It smells just like the candles but does not last as long according to our testers. The scent fades quickly in hot climates.

The most popular scents:

• Diva – You know who you are.

Pros:

• Unique scents not found anywhere else
• Women seem to find these scents to most appealing

Cons:

• The scent fades quickly in hot climates

Wonder Wafers Leather Air Fresheners

The Wonder Wafer air freshener offers an even scented but not overpowering unique scent. We found the leather scent to be the most intriguing. These little guys are meant to go under your car seat and produce a clean fresh smell of leather in your car’s interior.

The most popular scents:

• Leather
• Nu Car
• Black Royale

Pros:

• Please scents that aren’t overpowering
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Scent fades quickly

Best Car Air Spray

In this category, we will take a look at Car Air Sprays that are great for anyone detailing a car and want to give a special finishing touch. These sprays will give your car a fresh new car smell that will eliminate odors and usually work with one spray. Our top choice is concentrated and can be diluted with up to 2 gallons of water providing a great value. These sprays are great for drivers with pets and work well to eliminate lingering pet odors like wet dogs.

Chemical Guys Premium Air Freshener and Odor Eliminator

Chemical Guys Air Freshener had a very pleasant new car smell that uses a formula that eliminates odors “enzymatically.” One spray was very effective on the upholstery to give a good smell but more may be needed for stronger smells like wet dog in our case. But, since the Chemical Guys formula comes concentrated you can dilute the solution and spray as needed. We thought this provided great value for the price.

The most popular scent:

• New car smell

Pros:

• Very concentrate solution
• Works well to eliminate stale odors
• Eliminates pet odors on upholstery
• Long-lasting

Cons:

• Not for use on dashboards or consoles

Honorable mentions – Car Air Sprays

Ozium Air Sanitizer

Ozium Air Sanitizer is a glycol-sized air sanitizer that cleans the air and is great at eliminating difficult smoke odors. While this product is effective I would not recommend spraying this product in the car if you plan on going anywhere soon. It is very strong and needs to be aired out after use for at least 30 minutes. The chemical smell is not particularly pleasant but it is effective.

The most popular scent:

• Ozium

Pros:

• Effective at eliminating smoke
• One spray goes a long way
• Easy to carry

Cons:

• Chemical smell
• Must be aired out

Little Trees Spray Car Air Freshener

Made by the little tree company you know they have the scents you have come to enjoy like my favorite Black ICE. This spray is great for upholstery, carpets, and instant new car smell. It’s very strong, and lasts quite a while but not as long as Chemical Guys.

The most popular scents:

• Black Ice
• Vanillaroma
• New car smell

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Familiar scents
• Strong

Cons:

• Not as long-lasting as others

Smoke Eater Spray

Smoke Eater Spray as the name implies focuses on eliminating smoke odors from cigarettes or cigars. It is easy to use by spraying the car’s headliner. Smoke eater uses all-natural Tea Tree oil to break down odor molecules.

The most popular scents:

• Lavender
• Black Glazier

Pros:

• Works well with smoke odors
• All-natural formula
• Natural smelling scents

Cons:

• Repeated applications may be needed

Best Overall: Car Air Freshener Bombs – Foggers

If you aren’t familiar with Car Air freshener bombs you would be forgiven because I did not know this category of air fresheners even existed. These products are geared for stubborn odors like smoke or pets. They are not to be used while the vehicle is occupied as they are very strong and require time to seep into the ventilation system and a period to air out the vehicle cabin after use. *** Please follow manufacturer directions for specific use. ***

Meguiar’s Whole Car Air Re-Fresher Odor Eliminator Mist

Meguiar’s Whole Car Air Re-Fresher Odor Eliminator Mist is a permanent odor removal solution to eliminate cigarette smoke, wet dog smells, and other foul odors. It is a one-time use can and is activated in the car while the A/C is running on high, pressing the recirculate button, and closing the doors for 15 minutes. Wait outside the vehicle during the operation of the can. Once the 15 minutes have passed, air out the car for at least 15 minutes before operating the car. The black chrome scent was a refreshing and clean-smelling scent.

The most popular scent:

• Black chrome scent

Pros:

• Permanent odor removal for tough odors like smoke or wet dog
• Fast and easy car air freshener aerosol spray
• Works in about 30 minutes
• No residue after use
• Won’t ruin tinted windows

Cons:

• One can per car

Honorable mentions – Car Air Freshener Bombs – Foggers

Armor All Smoke X Car Air Freshener and Purifier

Armor All Smoke X Car Air Freshener and Purifier works exactly like Meguiar’s Odor eliminator and uses their patented Odor eliminating technology. It seems to be geared for smoke removal and uses the same fogger can set up to release its fragrance in the car while it’s running with the A/C on.

The most popular scent:

• Midnight Air

Pros:

• Smoke X features patented Odor Elimination Technology
• Works well on cigarette odors
• Removes odors instead of covering them up
• Fast and easy car air freshener aerosol spray

Cons:

• The cologne smell is not for everyone

Dakota Odor Bomb

Now I am including this product despite the name (sounds like a felony honestly) Dakota odor bomb. This solution is probably the most extreme and seems to be suited for large SUV’s or RV’s. It can deodorize up to 6000 cubic feet – or the size of a hotel room. Wow. But according to the manufacturer if you have “odors caused by urine, feces, decay, rancidity, fire, tobacco smoke, cooking, and mildew,” this is the product for you. Now, I won’t judge if you need to eliminate these odors but if you happen to find yourself in any of these situations you might want to rethink some of your life choices.

The most popular scent:

• New car scent – or at least not feces or decay.

Pros:

• Extreme measure for a really large job

Cons:

• Not cheap
• Not for small jobs

Best Overall: Car Air Freshener Gels

CS-X3 Squash C10 Air Spencer Refill

If you are looking to stand out the CS-X3 Squash C10 Air Spencer is by far the most futuristic-looking air freshener. The packaging makes it look like it’s from the future. These are very popular with the JDM import crowd. Definitely worth checking out!

The most popular scent: Squash

Pros:

• Pleasant squash smell
• Each refill lasts up to 4 weeks
• Unique design
• Made in Japan

Cons:

• More expensive than conventional air fresheners
• The scent fades faster in heat

Honorable mentions – Car Air Freshener Gels

Refresh Your Car! Scented Gel Can

Refresh Your Car! Scented Gel Can is another gel container that uses water-based gels that can be hidden around the car to control odors. The can comes with a scent control lid to control the strength.

The most popular scents:

• Hawaiian Sunrise
• Summer Breeze

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Easily hidden in the car

Cons:

• Cheaply made
• Don’t last

Ozium Odor Eliminating Gels

Ozium Odor Eliminating Gels offer a very consistent odor control and don’t melt when it gets hot. They are ideal for hiding around the car if you have stale odors.

The most popular scent: Ozium – smells like chemicals but does work.

Pros:

• Strong odor fitting chemicals
• Easily hidden around the car
• Good at removing smoke odors

Cons:

• The harsh chemical smell can be overpowering

Best Overall: Natural Car Air Fresheners

PURGGO Car Air Freshener

We really liked this product because it continues to work for 365 days and has no harsh chemical smells. It works by using activated bamboo charcoal to eliminate odors and purify the air. A very unique product for those looking for a natural alternative to other chemical air fresheners.

No Scent

Pros:

• No chemicals
• All-natural
• Lasts 365+ days

Cons:

• Must be placed in direct sunlight for an hour to activate

Honorable mentions – Natural Car Air Fresheners

Enviroscents Auto Sticks Natural Car Air Freshener

Enviroscents Auto Sticks Natural Car Air Freshener is a great product because they are made from all-natural recycled paper that has been dipped in fragrance. They last about 30 days and work rather well.

The most popular scent:

• Coastal Storm
• Onyx nights

Pros:

• All-natural, biodegradable
• Each stick works for 30 days

Cons:

• Can be distracting hanging on rearview mirror

Naturally Activated Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bags

Naturally Activated Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bags are another natural activated bamboo charcoal that purifies the cabin air by absorbing foul odor and deodorizing. The chemical smells and are eco-friendly.

Pros:

• All-Natural
• Activated Bamboo Charcoal
• Can be placed anywhere in the car

Cons:

• Must be left in the sunshine for an hour to activate

RoyAroma Car Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser Stainless Steel Locket

RoyAroma Car Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser Stainless Steel Locket is a vent clip with felt pads that you can put drops of essential oils to release scents into the cabin of your car. It does not include the essential oil. My wife loves these and it gets cool style points as well.

The most popular scents:

• You decide – Bring your own essential oils

Pros:

• Very cool style
• No waste
• Choose your own scents

Cons:

• NO essential oils included

Conclusion: Finding the best car air freshener is easy once you know the size of the job. We have covered car air fresheners for every need from smoke elimination to wet dog smells. We found the natural air fresheners to be most appealing because they are biodegradable, all-natural, and recyclable. But, if you need to get rid of really bad smells there are many options to meet your needs.

We are all things cars.

---

---