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.
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.
Mrs. DUB6 wearing her favorite perfume.
I have heard, but not verified, that Teslas have no “new car” smell at all. They just emit a certain Elon musk.
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.
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! 😜