Worry about a stinky car but are too fed up with ineffective fresheners? A vehicle that is well taken care of influences the ride. You wouldn’t mind getting stuck in traffic with a good-smelling car!
Well, this article got you! Car freshies are a thing now. You can make them as a statement piece of your vehicle. These do not only give fragrance but personality to your daily drive as well.
Ready to experience the best ride? Keep reading to know more!
Is It Necessary to Use a Car Freshener?
If you want to maintain a refreshing aroma in your car, then car fresheners are a must. Cars can house different odors, and car fresheners or car freshies are tools that deodorize the interior of vehicles. They come in varieties but hanging air fresheners with scented beads are typical.
Besides masking foul smells, car freshies preserve a clean environment by keeping the air quality fresh. There is a wide selection of scents that you can choose from, such as floral, citrusy, and woodsy. To know more of what scents fits will complement your perfume, check out our fragrance wheel.
Car Freshies Tips
The average lifespan of the fragrance is at least 2-4 weeks, but some last up to 3 months. It usually depends on the exposure, condition, and type of freshener.
Adequate exposure of the air fresheners to sunlight can effectively increase the scent. However, avoid leaving them on hot surfaces as they can melt in extreme temperatures (>100 degrees). A hot or dry environment may last the air fresheners for 2-4 days. In contrast, the fragrance lasts longer in cooler weather. In choosing fragrance to use, pick those with light but feel-good scent such as Musk oil and Lick Me All Over Fragrance oil.
Their design makes them easier to use and may serve as a decoration for your car. Getting a car freshener can save you time and future costs on problems like car odors and HVAC system malfunctions.
How Car Odor Affects Your Mood and Mental Health
Strange odors in cars can spoil the overall mood of your ride. Scents ranging from cigarette smoke to rotten egg smell to musty aroma say a lot about your car’s condition. The odors can stay longer without immediate action and cause disturbances during your drive.
In one study, smell influences at least 75% of emotions, including mood, concentration, memory recall, or connection. Exposure to scents showed a 40% improvement in mood, especially in stressful situations. According to Craig & Warrenburg, moods evoked by fragrances include but are not limited to relaxation, sensuality, productivity, and stimulation.
A study shows that scents are associated with enhanced performance in driving and your mood towards the length of your car stay. The fragrance types also play a role in the ambiance and effect they establish.
A lavender fragrance provides calmness, alertness, and comfort while feeling relaxed. Peppermint and cinnamon fragrances also improve attention, while vanilla fragrance increases feelings of freshness and comfort. In contrast, drivers tend to have less concentration and negative emotions in cars without perfume.
In short, scents are mentally and emotionally inclined. Therefore, considering the advantages above can help you choose the best air fresheners according to your preference. Additionally, you can explore with cute or funny car air fresheners to your liking!]
Different Types of Car Fresheners
The car freshies are also available in different designs. Their distinct styles contribute to their charm and allow you to utilize them according to your need. Here are various car fresheners capable of keeping your car smelling good.
Fabric Fresheners
Car fabrics such as seats and carpets absorb odors. This freshener usually comes in spray bottles that minimize unusual odors. Perfect for get rid of weed smell in car. A fabric freshener traps odor, and its easy use is suitable for a ‘quick fix’ type of odor masking.
You can choose from different scents like lavender, fruity, and bamboo. Spray in a sweeping manner in appropriate amounts at least weekly. An example is the Febreze Fabric Clean Auto which gives excellent performance and eliminates fabric odors, especially pet odors.
Odor Eliminators
There are various car odor removers that you can use depending on your preference and necessity. They range from simple to fancy products, but all are great at removing odors. Here are the different odor eliminators:
Surface Fresheners
Place these fresheners on hard surfaces such as the dashboard or hang them on your rearview mirror or seat handle. Examples of this type of car freshies are gel fresheners and hanging cardboard air fresheners.
These easy-to-place gel fresheners come in plastic or glass containers that use gel-containing essential oils. One of the best gel-based fresheners is the Ozmium, The Anywhere Odor Eliminator that helps absorb foul smells quickly.
Hanging cardboard air fresheners are typically inexpensive but still, show effective results. Little Trees (familiar?) is one of the best hanging car air fresheners that produce a refreshing smell.
Vent Clip Fresheners
These products are usually clipped-on objects attached to the AC vents. There are different kinds of these fresheners, such as vent sticks, oil wicks, and oil diffusers.
Vent sticks also contain essential oils or perfumes that provide a scent that diffuses throughout the space. Switch the ACs on and enjoy the fragrance of the air it produces; that will eliminate present odors.
Oil wicks are popular, and they contain scented oils and wicks. Oil diffusers are a mixture of scents and have modulators that you can use to adjust the level of fragrance. An example of a vent clip freshener is a Febreze CAR Vent Clip with various scent options, which can last for 40 days.
Plug-ins
Besides vent clip fresheners, this type is simple and easy to use. They also contain essential oils to produce the best fragrance in the car.
While plugging the freshener into your car’s outlet and your engine is on, they heat the oil. As a result, the plug-in fresheners cause a pleasant odor in the entire car interior, removing any odor concerns. One of the best plug-ins is Bargz Mini Car Air Humidifier which comes with various scents and a fragrance that lasts until 60 days.
Car Air Freshener Bomb
This car freshener lives up to its name in which it is a one-time-use product that blasts away odors immediately. Like any other car freshies, they eliminate foul odors in your vehicle. It resembles a smoke grenade by pulling the pin of the product where all of the vessel’s smoke disperses.
Before using, close all windows and set the AC to “recirculate mode.” Next, place the freshener at your vehicle’s center and let it fill the car for at least 15 minutes. Finally, open the doors to let the car breathe, and you’re good to go.
There are various car freshener bombs, and some may cost quite a bit. One of the best car freshener bombs is the Autoglym Anti-Viral Car Fogger Bomb. It does not only smell citrusy and lovely but will also kill bacteria in your car.
Car Air Freshies
These are commonly hanging car air fresheners that display a unique touch to your overall interior. You can customize these car freshies or handmade products to your liking. After all, adding a style to your fresheners doesn’t hurt a bit!
You can personalize or choose your car air fresheners with different styles, such as cutesy, funny, or luxurious looks. Cute car air fresheners and funny car air fresheners give a new perspective on neutralizers.
Cute car air fresheners can have it made with text and photos but still have scents to eliminate odors. You can be more than creative in choosing your freshener, such as those with different shapes. These are perfect for gift ideas if you want something heartfelt and helpful. You will no longer ask about how to get smoke smell out of car, as this car freshies are perfect solutions.
If you want to be humorous, not only presentation-wise but also with the scent, then this is it! A product called Chemical Guys Signature Scent, popularized due to its ‘stripper-like’ scent, is a vanilla and perfume blend. Still, it removes odors, and just like any cute car air freshener, it is excellent for gag gifts.
Side Effects of Fragrance
It is no secret that fragrances cause some side effects. Some incidents stir the general public about the safety of car air fresheners. Here are some health hazards that you must know about:
Fragrance Allergies
Car freshies can irritate your eyes, skin, and throat depending on the freshener type and exposure length. In addition, the particles from these products trigger a runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion.
According to Mitchell D., air fresheners contain at least 100 different chemicals that are harmful to your body. They can cause irritation and allergic reactions such as asthma and skin problems like dermatitis. Your condition worsens the more you are exposed to such products, especially for people with asthma.
A chemical found in air fresheners known as phthalates can cause various symptoms. For example, they are responsible for allergies, headaches, irregular heartbeats, and diarrhea. Therefore, chemically sensitive people must avoid using air fresheners and should consult with their doctors regarding fragrance-based cleaning products.
Fragrance-Associated Diseases
Phthalates are also hormone disruptors that specifically interfere with testosterone production. According to the NRDC, phthalates cause congenital disabilities and other reproductive abnormalities. Besides phthalates, another chemical known as formaldehyde is also present in plug-in air fresheners.
According to the CRCE, most air fresheners contain this toxic compound that can cause nose and throat cancers. Exposure to formaldehyde links to severe infections and respiratory ailments that affect immunocompromised populations, elders, and infants.
Another compound found in air fresheners is called naphthalene. This chemical is known to damage tissues and potentially cause lung cancer. However, according to Indoor Doctor, DIY scented air fresheners are good alternatives, and keeping a well-ventilated space improves air quality.
Conclusion
A comfortable ride includes a clean and fresh vehicle. Bad odors in a car can happen, but the important part is you can avoid them. Car air fresheners come in a variety that will allow you to have options to choose from them.
Additionally, car freshies, a pleasant-smelling car, affect your mood and drive. Not only can it mask and eliminate odors, but it will also give you an additional style to your interior. Regarding health concerns, take note of any signs or symptoms that may suggest your body's reaction to any car air fresheners.
Did we help you choose your favorite car air freshener? If you want to learn more tricks about a good-smelling car, follow our page!
