Buying guide for best car air fresheners
After being exposed to an odor for a prolonged period, you may temporarily lose your ability to smell that particular scent. This means that if your vehicle has developed an unpleasant odor, you might not even know it. But people who are new to the smell can be very sensitive to it and may notice it immediately. Fortunately, a new car air freshener can help your car smell magnificent.
The best car air freshener will not be overpowering. It will be effective at eliminating odors, not just masking them, and it will have a fragrance that you enjoy.
If you'd like to learn about the different options you have when it comes to purchasing a car air freshener, keep reading this buying guide. If you already know which type of freshener you prefer and how to get the most out of it, consider one of the highly rated car air fresheners we have spotlighted in this article.
Key considerations
With such a wide variety of car air fresheners available, deciding which is best for you can be difficult. In order to simplify the decision-making process, we've divided car air fresheners into two broad categories: air fresheners that merely mask odors and those that actually eliminate them.
Masks odors
At the lower end of the price range, car air fresheners simply add a pleasant fragrance to cover up offensive odor in your vehicle. This basic strategy can be implemented via aerosols, vent air fresheners, or essential oils. Because you can only smell matter that is in a gaseous state, the molecules in an air freshener are either sprayed into the air as a gas or changed from liquid to gas with the help of an outside catalyst, like heat, as would happen with essential oils. The added fragrance permeates the air inside the car, masking the less desirable odors.
Eliminates odors
Some car air fresheners not only produce a pleasant smell, but they can actively scrub the air, purging molecules that offend our noses. This can be accomplished in various ways. Some filters have activated charcoal works like an air filter. Some have micro particles that kill germs and bacteria as they infuse the air. Some have ionizers that emit negatively charged ions into the air that bond to allergens, dust, and bacteria, making them fall to the ground. As the offending particles are removed from the air, the bad smell diminishes.
For your safety
If you have allergies or asthma, it is important to be aware that fragrances may trigger attacks or adverse reactions.
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Features
After you've decided if you want to fill your car with a pleasing fragrance or actively reduce odor-causing particles, bacteria, and allergens, there are a few other elements to consider before finding the best car air freshener for your needs.
Where it goes
Car air freshener makers need to be creative with placement of their fresheners because there is little room in a vehicle to put new devices. Some of the clever installation spots for car air fresheners include snapping them into an air vent, fitting one snugly into a cup holder, or plugging one directly into your car’s power outlet. Some units feature a simple elastic hanging string, but be careful to keep your line of sight clear while driving when using these danglers.
Duration and strength
Most car air fresheners will last about a month. If you find yourself needing to replace your air freshener every other week, you may have to switch to a more powerful alternative. But don’t go overboard. A car air freshener with an overpowering fragrance simply swaps one bad smell for another.
Disposable
Some car air fresheners are disposable. Once the month is up, you just toss them. To lessen your carbon footprint, look for models that are refillable so you can cut down on waste.
Fragrance
Among the most popular scents offered are citrus, floral, musk, and pine. But the most important consideration is finding a fragrance that appeals to you. Your nose knows.
Car air freshener prices
The price of a car air freshener varies by type. Units that can be hung up or snapped into your vent, which will just add a fragrance, cost from $3 to $10. If you are interested in a car air freshener that actually helps eliminate odors, expect to pay $10 to $20. If you are seeking something that involves heat and essential oils or a plug-in unit that emits ionized particles to help clear your vehicle of pollen, mold spores, and bacteria, then you will need to spend $20 or more.
Caution
It is important to remember that car air fresheners should never be placed on or hanging against any surface of your vehicle as the chemicals in an air freshener may damage that surface.
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Tips
A car air freshener is a marvelous tool, but preventing car odors from accumulating in the first place is also a smart idea. Use these car odor reduction tips to help your chosen air freshener work better and longer.
- Clean your car regularly. Dirt has a smell. In order to keep your vehicle from developing that musty odor, be sure to clean the interior on a regular basis.
- Avoid eating in your car. Eating or transporting food in your car can leave a lingering odor that doesn't smell so yummy the next day. Or the next week.
- Fresh air is the best disinfectant. Go for a drive with the windows down occasionally to air out your ride.
- Designate your car as a non-smoking area. Smoking odors are extremely hard to eliminate. The best way to battle them is to not introduce them into your vehicle in the first place.
- Don't use your car as a gym bag. Leaving dirty or sweaty clothes in the back seat can leave your car smelling like a locker room.
- Purge your vehicle monthly. Items in your back seat can absorb and retain unpleasant odors, so make it a habit to regularly purge anything that accumulates in your car.
FAQ
Q. How long does a car air freshener work?
A. It varies by product. Some manufacturers recommend changing your car air freshener every month, while others work for nearly two months. Different conditions such as colder temperatures can increase an air freshener's active life, so let your nose be the final judge.
Q. Do I need to turn on my AC or heat to use a vent air freshener?
A. A car air freshener that is installed by clipping it into your vehicle's air vent is designed to function best when there is airflow. Warmer air moving at a higher speed through your car's air vents will allow the fragrance to more effectively permeate the interior of your vehicle. The trade off is that the more effective the vent air freshener is, the shorter its lifespan will be.
Q. Is hanging a car air freshener from my rearview mirror illegal?
A. Although many car air fresheners have an elastic string that easily fits over your rearview mirror, many states have strict laws against hanging anything that may obstruct the driver's field of vision.
