Air Fresheners

I had to figure out the draining of sunroof drain holes. I use a little 100 cc plastic syringe with the clear hose that attaches like aquarium air hose.

I had some water after a monsoon rain. I use those lava rocks burlap bags. They help absorb moisture and smells. You can recharge them by putting them in the sun. I wipe down the seats and dash with a Chemical Guys spray. When I am done, I may try 303 or another brand.

I tried the Drift air freshener and have no regrets. A coworker had one in his truck and he was raving about it so I said why not. The teak is really nice and lasts a pretty long time.

Similar to drift I bought this a while back.
They are good, and you can just add some oil to the wood disc when needed, so it’s never overly strong. Personal favorites are new car and galactic skies.

https://frshslabs.com/collections/frshslabs-tin

I just keep the car really clean. I then use Carpro InnerQD Clean. Its a light Interior Quick Detailer focused on maintenance, anti-microbial action, and anti-static dusting. It leaves a mat finish and has a light clean, slightly citrus smell at first which goes away.

California Scents for the nostalgia-childhood factor. Treefrog is a nice low profile box I keep under the seat

There are 100's of different kind of air fresheners but the problem is the longevity.

I just buy the Areon air fresheners with the spray bottle and respray every other week or so. Most detail supply shops carry them.

I just like it to have the BMW new car "crayons" smell. Most of my BMWs have been used and I've been able to get the smell back in all of them, thankfully. Once you clean to the level that I do it tends to return. Hate artificial scents.

Surprisingly, a dryer sheet under the seat works great. Clean smelling and not overpowering - replace as needed.

If looking for something a bit stronger, Treefrog Squash brings back that 90s vibe.

daryl rsv4 wrote

There are 100's of different kind of air fresheners but the problem is the longevity.

This is exactly the problem and why I mostly stopped using air fresheners except in my 11 year old truck. Air fre$hener$ are $hort lived con$umables by de$ign with huge a margin (thus, why every convenience store, gas station, and car wash has them and keeps them in prime real estate spots).

I tend to dislike the initial nostril-punch of most options and then am disappointed by the longevity. So, I've kind of developed a routine that I toss into my detailing process:

• Prep:
  • Deep clean and polish/protect first - hiding bad smells with good smells is a losing battle. Clean up the funk in the seats/carpets first... don't forget to get under the seats and on the rear deck, behind backseat head rests.
    • Pick a cleaner, conditioner, and/or protectant you like the smell of as baseline - don't use something you'll want to mask/override later.
    • If a standard deep clean doesn't do it, Chlorine Dioxide ClO2 Odor Bombs have worked great for me to nuke any stubborn, existing bad smells
    Once every 12-24mo I use BG Frigi-Clean or Nextzett Klima Cleaner Pro to get rid of AC funk (the musky, old-sock smell common to cars and portable/window ACs)
  Smell:
  • None:
    • Activated Charcoal Bags - they last 1-2 years if you recharge them, monthly, by putting them out in the sun for an hour or two
    Custom/DIY:
    • (Hear me out!) Essential or fragrance oils on an unfinished-wood clothespin (my brother uses springless doll pegs) placed either inconspicuously (under the dash) or on an air vent. A couple drops from high quality fragrance companies (Carpro, Eikosha, Wellington, AromaTech, etc)
    Standard:
    • Gel cans seems to last longest, I kind of like Air Spencer CS-X3/squash - lasts 2-6 weeks
    • Rock or electric diffusers with the above oils, not the mass market stuff - lasts 1-8 weeks
    • Meguiar's Whole Car Air Re-Fresher (not my bag but popular in my area) - lasts ???...never tried it myself

lol i use the blue & black tree combo, i need to step my game up. cant disrespect the x5 anymore lol

Air fresheners are primarily marketed to and purchased by a certain socioeconomic segment. If your car smells inside, clean it.

OG Essence Automotive Fragrance in the spray bottle, leather + pine, a few sprays on the carpet after a good cleaning. *Chef's kiss!

If you're dealing with things more common in previously misused vehicles.....like embedded in the material or hidden in a ducting.....look into the OdorXit products.
They eliminate the odors instead of masking them.

Thank you all for the responses! Huge help! Lots of great info!

John in VA wrote

I like their New Leather - open the package but leave the wafer in it & place under the seat.

Just got mine in from Amazon and the new leather scent is great. It smells just like Zaino leather conditioner to me. I'll report back about longevity in a few weeks.

I highly recommend Pura Car Pro Air Diffuser.
It has perfect premium fragrance cartridges and motion detecting system.

https://pura.com/products/pura-car-pro?srsltid=AfmBOoohK_oeZ9__lU5PiFaIGCb2WWjdx4M1LrnmX4PCpzIfnGLEtvDv

I use this. Clips to an air vent. It’s subtle but effective. The refills last about 6 weeks.

Emily172013 wrote

Come on guys. We're driving performance cars , not an SUV with kids and pets inside going nuts. Crazy post.

Heck, I drive a G29 Z4 6MT and I still like the car to smell like new if possible:)