What’s the Best Smell in a Car?
The internet is littered with content that suggests that what smells good to some people evokes the exact opposite reaction in others. The latest According to You question will likely add to that, but first, I owe you an explanation: This question’s origin wafted up from a very non-automotive source.
It stems from my personal wake-up call that osmophobia is real. Smells can trigger headaches in some folks, and I’ve discovered that one spice (cumin, probably) is the trigger for painful sinus headaches for yours truly. As a South Asian American, it’s unfortunate that such a delicious part of my culinary heritage does this to me, but I’m thankful it only happens when the smell is very strong.
Be it spices, freshly cut grass, a light rain, or chemicals in vehicles, we all have different reactions to smells. It’s been suggested that not everyone smells things the same to everyone for valid physical reasons. And for this very, very personal reason, I began to think about the positive angle of this topic—what’s my favorite smell in cars?
Allow me to pick the lowest-hanging fruit. Leather seats smell absolutely wonderful to my olfactory nerves. (Thank goodness they don’t trigger my headaches!) And, for me anyway, leather paired with new car smell is downright addictive.
There are other smells I enjoy, like the contrast of old engine oil versus fresh synthetic oil after performing an oil change in my own driveway. That’s the smell of satisfaction for a job well done. But it can’t touch the smell of leather in my book. So I kick the question back to you, dear members of the Hagerty Community:
What’s the best smell in a car?
The slight hint of coolant smells when the heater is on. Reminds me of being a kid in the back seat of my parents Honda Accord.
The problem is that coolant smell could be a leaky heater core!
Best smell, unburnt hydrocarbons out the tailpipe of a big block carbed car with a lopey idle!
My favorite has to be the smell of race fuel coming out the tail pipe- Sunoco 110 or VP C16 have a particular smell- sweet and pungent at the same time
Nothing has a smell as pleasant as 140 octane av-gas
I’m with you on the race gas..get in my clothing and people ask me what i’m driving at a car event
I agree the smell of the exhaust from a thumpy cam is what heaven must smell like!
Too bad many Thumply cams have carbs that are too big or need jetted.
These are how Hell smells in the lake of fire.
Uncontrolled exhaust gives me an immediate headache. My 1968 Impala 327 was bad about that, as is my ancient Allis-Chalmers tractor. Not sure why anyone would think it smells good.
Yes, yes… That sweet, sweet smell of vaporizing glycol based coolant. 🙂 Usually, that good time is accompanied by an expensive and messy leaky radiator, heater core, or blown head gasket, cracked block, etc… That smell is good until it’s not. 🙁
Best: No smell at all.
Second best: Hot french fries in the bag that’s sitting in the passenger seat next to you.
Worst: That godawful “air freshener” stench that all the used car lots spray in their cars.
Absolutely! The off-gassing of so many synthetic materials contained inside a new car makes me ill — cannot tolerate the toxins.
Mrs. DUB6 wearing her favorite perfume.
Well played, DUB6, well played.
I have heard, but not verified, that Teslas have no “new car” smell at all. They just emit a certain Elon musk.
Wow ! Love this one WRLotus and may use it myself.
I wanted to comment on what that particular Musk might smell like, but Hagerty won’t allow it!
Sorry to say that might be chlamydia.
You’re in a timeout.
I think this question was answered in one scene of the classic movie Christine
I hebeby verify that my Tesla doesn’t have any smell at all. (Note, it is by far the best car I have ever driven and owned. Total maintenance € 0 in 5 years, did trips from northern Europe to strange countries like Albania of over 7500K). The major (and almost only) realy big problem of the car is Elon Musk. Here in Europe, one has to park it’s car at least one block away from your customer or friend. It sounds like a joke, but this time it’s for real.
About -real- smell. Leather is good, but for me two smells beat it:
1. The smell of an old VW beetle (let’s say 1950-1965). Straight SAE single grade undoped oil, mixed with the always present faint smell of the exhaust system (or heating ??), the fragrance of the PVC ‘leather’ seats, the old grease and some hard to explain mix of rust and mold. Memories, memories.
2. The aggresive bite of Castrol Racing Castor oil (hence the name?), mixed with regular gas as used for racing two stroke bikes. Specifically the castor variety (I mean the stuff from the ricinus plant, not the refined oil, let alone the synthetic type). My veins widen, the adrenaline starts flowing: I want to race. Now!
Yes – Castrol R – ideally while watching at a classic circuit – Goodwood or Silverstone.
Just about any air-cooled Volkswagen. Sit down in one blindfolded, and you can instantly tell what you’re in. If you’re really good, you can tell the approximate vintage. The exact source and composition of the smell is a source of endless conjecture and debate, but you’re onto much of it. The headliner material and coconut fiber seat padding fiber also contribute.
I used Racing Castor in my bikes for years. Guys said they would stay behind me just because of the smell!!
Now that’s funny.
The real disappointment is to find today the leather seat smell is artificial and an added cost. I participated in a group where they asked if the smell was important. Why? It cost more to put in a car.
Now doubt the new car smell ranks high for me. Growing up we were lucky to get a new car every year for many years. The smell of the plastic and Lacquer paint.
The other things car related. The smell of the old leaded gas. It was different back then. Also Av Gas or racing fuel. Even the exhaust smelled better.
Finally being in a family of many tire company workers. The smell of new tires when I was a kid. It is still there some but not like it was.
If you enjoy the smell of leather in your car, go buy a piece from an interior shop (cut offs) and put it under the front seats. When the smell fades, just replace them…….
You can just buy a bag of smell from Griots and choose leather.
If you get leather it will have to be tanned with the smell. It’s not natural.
Gotta agree about the tires. I just love the smell when walking into a tire store.
I have to go with the leather smell. In addition, all the smells my 50 year old British cars emit, and there are plenty.
Agree. After a drive, I close the garage door, and it smells wonderful…and just like my Dad’s Hillman Minx 60 years ago.
The leather in a well kept British car is great. But the older ones reek of Leather. Leaking oil on a manifold and mildew from a leaking roof.
My dad’s buddies Austin Healy is still in my memory. He was a struggling artist. With a cool car in need of restoration.
I have had my 1986 Jag XJ6 for 34 years. It’s garage kept and only seen rain 3 times in the time I’ve owned it and never seen snow. Whenever I get in it the leather smells beautiful as it should.
My dad worked at a tire and rubber factory when i was a kid. It was a weird smell back then. Today, that new tire smell triggers me to think how nice it is to have some new performance rubber on my car. Nowadays, riding around in my van carrying new tires for several days before installation makes me sick and nauseated. 🙁
Hot race gas exhaust – fresh from the pipe – Mmmm
hyperv6, sounds like we led parallel lives… during my younger years at the family tire shop and after I was married, I’d shower at night or sleep alone.
That reminder much later when I worked for the tire company and visited a plant or warehouse, again, I’d shower at night or sleep alone… just can’t get that smell out of clothing or your hair!
The smell of good stoichiometry after a hard launch
Raise your hand if you – like me – had to look up stoichiometry in order to appreciate TG’s comment! 😜
Yep!
Yup
Double Ditto!!!
Not me! 35 years behind auto and motorcycle parts counters taught me what that was a LONG time ago. Still active behind a parts counter….
It’s a hot topic!
Unspilt milk.
Castrol “R”
I vote for the 2 cycle exhaust from my Yamaha 400 Mono Shock burning Castrol.
Yep. My KDX 200 smells so good burning that Castrol racing oil.
The best smell of all whether racing motorcycles or cars. If I go to Goodwood and smell Castrol R I am immediately taken back to 1956/7 when I raced a couple of Nortons in Southern Rhodesia/Zimbabwe.
I remember a little skunk 🦨 air freshener that was in so many cars in the 60’s. They were just the best smelling air freshener ever. Wish I could buy them today.
A familiar smell that brings back memories. When I smell the interior of a 60’s Ford product it reminds me of the 1964 Mercury Comet Cyclone I had many years ago.
Yes, especially if it’s on a sunny summer day. My ‘69 Torino has the same smell as my dad’s old ‘68 Galaxie back when I was a kid. Both vinyl seats with the same cushion material. Familiar and comforting.
Driving my MG and NOT smelling hot wiring before the inevitable meltdown.
LOL
I owned 4 MGB’s over the years and only once had that smell.
You did better than me… 1 mgb… 1 electrical fire….
Call me old school, but from my early years digging around in auto junk yards for parts, I really like the smell of old oil and dirt.
Okay, you’re old school…
…but your smeller is fine.
With a little gear oil thrown in for good measure… smells like opportunity
My absolute favorite smell is the interior of British sports cars from the 60’s and 70’s. The combination of leather, carpet, and other materials is the best. My 1969 MGB still has the same smell after all these years.
My 66 B and my 97 XJ6L
My favorite, too. I had an early ’60’s Spitfire and later on, an early ’70’s Tr6.
I am going with the smell of oil, hot metal, and “something else” which lingers near the engine compartment of my 993 for many hours after a drive. It’s unique, for sure, and makes me smile.
Dating myself, I have to say the best smell ever was a new car built in the 50s and 60s.
Ditto. Also the way gasoline used to smell.
My ’41 Oldsmobile still carries the smell of the original Mohair upholstery which has never been replaced! My dad bought this car new in 1941… so everytime I get into the Olds it reminds me of him. For me there is no better smell in the world!
I was about to write “old car smell,” not dissimilar to “old man smell,” but you beat me to the punch. Leather, mohair, wool, raw gas, a hint of the Father’s Day scent-of-the-year, some pipe or cigarette smell. Miss ya, Dad!