Any parent of young kids knows the struggle of keeping their cars smelling fresh. If you’re not collecting muddy boys from soccer practice, you’re agreeing to a late-night McDonald’s run or dealing with the unpleasant after-effects of car sickness. With so much going on around the clock, it’s not surprising if your car isn’t smelling its best.
Thankfully, there’s an easy way to mask most bad odors and give you a reason to inhale deeply when you climb into your car (rather than wanting to peg your nose): hanging an air freshener or two from the rear-view mirror.
But the last thing you want is a scent that fades after a few days, or worse, overpowers everything in the sickliest of ways. Here, we’re sharing the best scents for car air fresheners for those long, smelly journeys with your kids.
Lavender
You can’t go wrong with the calming scent of lavender. Not only does a lavender air freshener help mask any unpleasant odors, but it has also been found in studies to reduce stress and induce relaxation, making it ideal for long drives or commutes to school during rush hour.
Citrus
Citrus scents, like orange or lemon, are a great choice for your car air freshener if you prefer something fresh and uplifting. Citrus is also particularly good at masking food or snack smells, so it’s a good option if you’re planning a road trip with lots of on-the-go food stops.
Vanilla
If you want your car to smell warm and comforting without being overwhelming, go for a vanilla-scented air freshener. Plus, it’s said to be one of the few scents that’s “universally enjoyable”, so it shouldn’t cause arguments amongst the occupants of your car.
Cotton or Fresh Linen
Not everyone wants to be knocked flat by a strong-smelling air freshener every time they get in the car. In this case, look at a clean, gentle scent that isn’t too strong for sensitive noses, like cotton or fresh linen. Just smell before you buy if possible, as some brands make these scents artificially sweet.
Mint
Last but not least, mint is a less common air freshener scent, which is a shame, as it’s instantly refreshing and can help with motion sickness. You might want to make your own air freshener using peppermint essential oil if you can’t find one to buy online.
Choose Your Favorite Scent With a Custom Air Freshener
Buying a car air freshener from the gas station might be the easier option, but if you want the best selection of scents, it’s worth shopping online. Look at custom car air freshener stores like Make My Freshener, which offers more than 10 scents and lets you personalize your air freshener with any photo or other design elements.
With a fresh-smelling air freshener, car journeys don’t have to be an assault on your senses. You can’t go wrong with vanilla, citrus, lavender, fresh linen, or mint—and creating a custom design for your air freshener feels a bit more special than buying a generic product from the store.
Leave a Reply