Hey guys/gals.

A while ago i started looking for the best "new car scent" sprays or any other way to get my car to have that brand new smell again. I don't smoke, and the car isn't that dirty, it's just that the new car smell is gone and i wanted to get it back

I searched everywhere, and i mean EVERYWHERE i could. I google-searched, tried local auto shops; everything i could- to get the right "new car" scent. I purchased quite a few products based on research and their names, and thought i would post some of my opinions on each.

Here are some of the products i have tried and my opinions about each of them.

1. "Little Trees" New car scent air freshener (the kind you hang from a mirror) -Got it from Autozone
RESULTS: AWFUL. There is absolutely No resemblance to the new car smell what-so-ever. The smell is offensive and very strong.

2. "Zaino" Z-10 Leather in a bottle (leather conditioner) -Got it offline
RESULTS: No resemblance to the new car smell. It's not an "awful" smell, it just doesn't smell like a new car.

3. "Leatherique" Prestine clean Leather cleaner - Got it from AutoGeek online
RESULTS: This stuff brings out a good smell from leather when used. Doesn't smell like the new car smell, but does seem to help when used on the leather.

4. "Blue Water Productions" Leather Smell (in a bottle) -Got it off eBay
RESULTS: Doesn't smell anything like the new car smell. Kind of smells like perfume? Useless

5. "Carxent" Leather Scent -Got this from the Philippines, someone suggested it
RESULTS: Smells "interesting" but no resemblance to the new car smell.

6. "Zymol" Leather Cleaner- Got this from either Target or Walmart
RESULTS: Smells like a mix between the carxent and prestine clean. No resembelance to the new car smell, but does help when used on leather.

7. V7 Car Perfume Spray -Got this from the Philippines, someone suggested it
RESULTS: Smells EXACTLY like the crap in the "little trees" air freshener. AWFUL, NO resemblance to the new car smell.

8. Meguiars Vinyl & Leather Cleaner #40 -Got this from online, many suggested it.
RESULTS: Kind of smells like a mixture of all the above. Doesn't smell ANYTHING like the new car smell.

Out of all of these, i wouldn't suggest using any if you're attempting to get that "new car smell' back. If your goal is to condition your leather, use the leatherique prestine clean OR Zymol if you're concerned about the odor, but they won't give you that true new car smell.

There are a few other products i'd like to try or are even on their way. They are:

9. Ozium New Car Smell
10. "Angel Scent Aromas" Leather New Car Scent Home & Auto Spray (from ebay)
11. Demeter "New Money" scent (found review stating it was perfect match to new car smell, but i can't find where to purchase...)
12. Demeter "New car Scent"(can't find where to purchase...)
13. "Lane's" New Car Scent - from online

I read a response from a Lexus forum (don't remember which one) where a member found a roll of tape that smelled just like the new car smell. He put it under his seat and presto the smell was back! I tried to contact him asking the brand name with no response... Also i've heard responses suggesting throwing a new vinyl shower curtain under the seat, but i'm not sure which one i should use.

Can anyone suggest any other products out there that have the true new car smell? Please no comments on how bad the smell is, i'm just looking for ideas on where i can find a better product. Thanks, please comment!

hahaha.. all that work for the smell of industrial adhesives and plastics... goodluck. I'll definitely try out whatever you pick as the winner.

The smell of leather is really difficult to re-create. But the smell of adhesive (which is part of the 'new car smell') can be obtained by putting a small amount of Marine Glue or "Goop" on a piece of paper and putting it under a seat or two.

I'm kind of up in the air about this one. Personally, I don't think that there is a way to get a universal "new car smell" in a bottle that will work with the so many different brands of cars. Like some of you guys said part of the new car smell is the smells of adhesives etc, which I guess are somewhat generic in the manufacturing process. But different manufacturers use different treatments on their leathers which in turn gives them different aromas. I remember the smell of my '95 LS is similar to the '01 GS that I had, but almost exactly the same as my uncle's '91 LS he had. The Benzes that were in my family had a distinct smell to them as well very different than the Lexii. Even the '96 Suburban LT smelled differently, so my point is to try and find a smell that is "clean" and a leather cleaner/protector that works, as well as leaves a clean scent, and not heavily perfumed.

But, with that said, I'm still very interested to see what your findings are as you've done quite a bit of trial and error.

Many of the different brands 'new car scent's' smell different anyways......and was it not discovered not long ago that it's toxic? lol.

I've been using the Griot's leather cleaner, and it smells like leather. I like how that works out. they have a new car scent spray, but I haven't used that. I just like the seats to smell like leather.

I like my car to smell like pineapples... it helps me forget the miserable NY weather... whenever I really miss the new car smell, i go test drive a new car.

People have been trying to do this forever, good luck!

have you tried the meguiars? reco? My boss uses "carxent" leather scent and some other scent i liked the smell but seems like it is not sold in the USA...

my brother bought a "carxent leather scent" yesterday online.. it is close to the real thing the problem is it does'nt last long. He also bought "Carxent" fierce scent it smells like my girl friend's perfume.

I just use some Fabreeze auto once a month or so.

"can be obtained by putting a small amount of Marine Glue or "Goop" on a piece of paper and putting it under a seat or two."
-I never thought about this one! I have a cold right now (can't smell a darn thing ) but when it's cleared i will put my nose to the test.
14. Goop

"I've been using the Griot's leather cleaner, and it smells like leather."
-I've got some on the way, i will add that to the test!
15. Griot's Leather Care

linth, which meguiar's product are you talking about; the leather treatment or something else? I love their OLD tire shine (the new one is odorless...) it smelled like cotton candy!
16. Meguiars (?)

"reco?"
-What do you mean reco? I tried googling it with leather, new car scent, as keywords with no results =/
17. reco (?)

Yeah, the carxent isn't sold in the US as far as i could tell. Even i you google it, there are few results. I happened to come across a Philippine forum where someone was talking about the stuff. I e-mailed him and he purchased some for me, and sent it to me (had to pay him $68 GRRR). I guess it solved my curiosity though even though it's useless...

roadmonster, where did your friend buy the carxent??? i couldn't find any retailers here in the US OR online... They have a few cents in addition to "leather scent" like "curves" "fierce" "mango crisp" and "blue steel" which all smell like perfumes/deodorant lol.

And i've tried the fabreeze auto, it's fresh but not the new car smell

I am absolutely DETERMINED, if not to find the BEST product, to at least try everything i can get ahold of.

I read a comment someone mentioning this 'demeter' stuff, ever hear of it? I think it's a woman's perfume name?

Click to view attachment Ok, I'm watchin...

my brother got his carxent leather scent from tGi singapore he paid thru online.. we only paid $5 not including the freight, for the leather scent. where did you bought you're $68 carxent? is it bigger? actually i liked the leather scent of the "carxent" the only problem is.. it doesnt last long...

ive tried the new car scent of california scent... its useless! smells like cheap cologne
anyone here tried masaka new car scent from japan?
how about V7 car perfume from Philippines?
or Zaino Z10 leather in a bottle available here in the US?

Well i had to purchase the whole set of carxent, not just the leather one. That's why it costed me $68 bucks lol.

He also sent the V7 to me. It's crap, smells just like the little trees air freshener...

Any new results or comparisons here?

Irony of ironies ... that folks associate new car smells as a good thing, rather than NO smell as being a good thing. Yes, to each his own. That said, tanning chemicles, adhesives, etc are often some of the worst allergins ... for some, more than others ... right up there with cigarette fumes. One of the most common 'stenches' that folks associate with new car smells is the stench of off-gassing polly vinal chloride (plastic fumes) which has been identified since the 1970's as being a carcinogen. Often, people who know / realize this will jokingly go, "MMmmm! New car smell!" when they get a whiff of PVC. Oh well, if you REALLY like it, you can always buy a roll of awning plastic and lay it in your car. That'll give you a big whiff of it ... but I'd recommend you don't.

Click to view attachment LOL!!!

It's cheaper and easier to re-tune your brain to stop wanting the New Car Smell (glue sniffing), and appreciate other things.

I like the smell of freshly conditioned leather now. And if it's been getting a tad stuffy, a good scent is My Shaldan's fruit smells. Like Apple. I like their apple smell.

I have an update.

Tried a few more products with no positive results yet. Still looking!

I think some of these scents are weird... hehehhe.. either way still looking forward to all of them

Absolutely nothing smells even remotely like a new car. I've tried everything...

Not gonna bother listing the rest of the crap i've tested, just know there isn't anything out there that works. So if you see something that states, "NEW CAR SMELL"- just know it didn't pass the chris duluk test and that it's crap.

If i could only get my money back!!

Told ya so

Dang....I was hoping for ya.

So, ok, nothing smells like a new car, except a new car. So of all the ones you have tested, seeing as how you have them, do you like any of them? Are there any that in particular you think atleasts smells good, even though it doesn't smell like a new car? And didn't you think the Griot's leather care smells just like leather? Or didn't you try that one?

smooth1, i tried the griots; i've tried everything. I don't think any of them come CLOSE to the new car smell, or anything else i would regularly spray in my car. They aren't even "pleasant'- they're all displeasing, at least to me they are.

Personally, unless it's a new car smell, a car shouldn't have any odor at all. Some of my friends that have older cars, they hang stupid air fresheners, so their cars either smell like coconuts, vanilla or some other "artificial" smell.

The best suggestion i can give is to just clean the carpets regularly, and condition the leather with the leatherique products so the natural smells of the leather are released.

All of the manufacturers of the crap i tried get a big F

I use Griots leather scent (a spray), I don't think it smells like a new car, but it smells clean. People get in my car all the time and say "Wow, this still smells new" or "Is it new" or "How do you keep it smelling new?".

Did you try that one?

I bought the griots leather conditioner, is that the same one?

The best one I've found is from "Aerometrics". It's a "New Car" scent.

Is it close? or Probably just like everything else i tried? lol

I use this stuff called Air Wash, it comes in a blue can, and I like it. It's the first can of "scented" anything that I have found that I actually liked. It smells new car enouph for me. Have you tried that one?

No, it's pretty close. If only they still sold it around here, I might be tempted to put one in my LS. I've gotten lots of comments about it in other cars.

GRRRR lol.

I'll try them. I'll try to find a retailer. I've got to test them now ;P



1,000,000: "Aerometrics" "New Car" scent.

1,000,001: and "Air Wash"

No, its actually a scent in a little air freshener spray bottle. They also have a new car now but I haven't tried that.

You don't have to buy it, just smell it at the store!

Do you know anyone who sells it? lol

SW, i just ordered some of the spray! I'm hoping this stuff is good.

I have to order some more too. Maybe I'll wait and buy yours from you if you don't like it

Go to a tannery and buy a cow hide and stuff it under your seats.

The smell of leather has very little to do with "new car smell".

In fact leather in most japanese cars doesn't smell, because the smell of leather is offensive to the Japanese.

Hi, did you ever find that new car scent yet? how is your quest going?

Eh i've been busy lately with school and everything. I'll update soon

Hi, i found this forum when looking for new car scent, i don't even own a lexus lol i am determined to find this smell. When i bought my truck last summer (it's an 02 gmc) it smelled like new car or what i think of new car since i have not owned a new car. So the dealer must have used some kind of spray?

I just ordered some Lane's new car scent, i will see how this works. Anyone tried this?

I also just found a spray bomb from Top of the line detailing supplies called Dakota Odor Bombs, they have a scent called "leather (new car)", you set the can in the car and the whole thing empties
Anyone ever tried this?

Tried lane's; ain't even close.

All of the "sprays" were a dud.

Last month i found the closest thing. I was roaming around Staples with my girlfriend, we were sitting in the computer chairs. In the general area of the store, i got a strong whiff of the new car smell! Wasn't the leather chairs, but turns out they sell these rugs that smell EXACTLY like a new car. They have a black vinyl bottom with brownish/black fibers.

I bought one and put it upside-down in my tailgate area (vinyl side up). When the car heats up, it out-gasses and makes the car smell really new

I just got an '08 this week which still has the new car smell. Damn that rug is the same smell! I bought another rug and put it in this one too, to make the scent stronger

Here's the rug. Staples has two sizes and various colors, i just stuck my nose in each, and this type was the strongest. It was less than $20.

crap, i just spent $20 on the lane's, oh well i'll still try it. Do you think the sun has to hit that rug directly, or just the whole interior heats up and it smells? I would have to put it behind my seat, where the sun doesn't really reach. Has anyone tried that glue or goop that someone suggested?

There must be some kind of spray, when i bought my vehicle it smelled new for several months, even though it was 6 years old. Maybe it's a trade secret? Maybe they mix certain chemicals and then spray it?

Sometimes when it sits in the sun, closed up for awhile, i can smell it lightly for a couple minutes.

I tried every spray i could find, ones from overseas, to ones at autozone, and the ones mentioned here- none of them satisfied me.

But the rug is the smell. It doesn't need to be in the direct sun, it doesn't need to be in the sun at all. When the air heats up, the gases from the rug go into the air and fill the whole car. You could cut it up and put sections under each seat. The smell is the closest thing i could find. None of the sprays even came close =/

Lane's doesn't smell anything like the new car smell. It's "fresh", but doesn't make me think "new car" at all.

The rug's your best bet

have i inspired anyone to get the mat yet? Because honestly, it's the smell!!

Hands down, wipe out the interior with Muurphy's Oil Soap. Leather seats and all. Just not the windows. You'll really like it. Smells like new car to me.

I wouldn't use Murphy's Oil Soap. Its a heavy oil and will damage the interior materials over time.

Plenty of cleaners out there specifically designed for automotive interiors...no need to use household products that can cause damage.

I'm telling you, these mats from staples are the way to go!!!!! No liquids.

I picked up another mat last week, cut it up into 4 parts and put sections under each seat. The thing smells EVEN MORE brand new now! I SWEAR it's the new car smell, EXACTLY! lol

http://www.aeolus-online.com/catalog/pics/..._Seat_Cover.jpg

Buy a set of these. You don't even have to install 'em. As suggested above, just stuff 'em in back some where. They're PVC. The stink of their off gassing is what most associate with new car stink. It'll be like walking into a brand new mobile home ... all the fermaldehyde, and polyvinalchloride off-gassing that's legally alowed. Yum yum