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Jan 19, 2024

8 Best Car Air Fresheners of 2023

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. Don't let those drive-thru

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Don't let those drive-thru fries stink up the place!

After a couple of accidental beverage spills, some trips to the vet and bussing sweaty teens from soccer practice, you might notice that the new car smell you once loved is nowhere to be found. Although it’ll never replace a good interior car wash or even a quick cleaning with a car vacuum, using an air freshener can help mitigate the stink and keep your vehicle’s interior from offending the noses of your passengers.

There are many air fresheners available, and tons are made specifically for use in automobiles. We at the Good Housekeeping Institute tested several of the most notable car air fresheners on the market to pull together a list of the best ones, from hanging cards to vent clips to traditional spray bottles. Without further ado, here are our top picks for car air fresheners.

After our picks, keep reading to learn how we tested car air fresheners and what you should look for when shopping for one. Interested in more car accessories? Check out our top-tested car phone holders, car covers and the best car accessories on Amazon.

There's a reason we named these the best car air freshener in our roundup of the best air fresheners for every room in your home. The minimalistic design looks at home on your car's dashboard, they start working instantly as your car circulates hot or cold air and they can last up to a month. One tester was particularly enthused by the design, saying, "It's nice and small, and the black color blends perfectly into my vents and leather dashboard". Some Amazon reviewers have also noted the vent clip design is preferable to a swinging or hanging air freshener which can distract while driving.

In our testing, we noticed the scents may be a bit overbearing after first installing, but these clips are equipped with a dial on the back that lets you adjust the amount of fragrance released so you can easily tune them to your preferences.

This innovative pick from Meguiar's works a little differently from the rest of the air fresheners on our list. While most spray bottle air fresheners simply have you spray an inconspicuous place in your car, this air freshener is a "scent bomb" that claims to eliminate odor by using the air circulation in your car. Simply close all your windows and doors, turn your air conditioner on high, and activate the canister's locking trigger. Leave the car for 15 minutes, then open all the doors and allow your vehicle to air out for an additional 10-15 minutes before hitting the road.

While it isn't as expedient as many other air fresheners, more than 20,000 5-star reviews on Amazon attest to its efficacy. We didn't get a chance to test this one in the Lab for ourselves, but the glowing reviews and innovative dispersal method made it undeniably appealing.

Since the decision of which car air freshener to use is so personal, we're always impressed with products that give the consumer as many options as possible. The Yankee Candle Sidekick features dispensers in vent-clip, visor-clip and hanging forms that all take the same refill.

A starter kit contains one dispenser and two refills, each of which is claimed to last for 30 days. Though we didn't have the opportunity to test the Sidekick in the Lab, we appreciated the novelty of using the same refills for different forms of car air fresheners. It seems so obvious, yet it's so uncommon! We also loved that there are scents that mimic some of Yankee Candle's most beloved candle scents like Pink Sands and Clean Cotton. If you're already a fan of the brand's candles, you'll easily find a perfect freshener for your car.

We love just how beautiful this car air freshener is. The wood block is soaked in essential oil and has an organic, minimalist appeal. It clips into the car's sun visor using an included clip. Drift offers a subscription model so that when your old freshener starts to fade, you'll have a new one at the ready for your use.

While we didn't get to try this model in the Lab, we were wowed by its design and equally impressed with the scents offered by Drift — many of which, like coffee and teak, we've never seen before for car air fresheners. We also loved the "scent of the month" option which features seasonally limited edition scents curated for the specific time of year.

For the individualist who wants their car scent to stand out among the masses of green pastures and ocean breezes, we present the Air Spencer CS-X3. This refillable air freshener sits atop the dashboard to eliminate foul car odors.

The name is a bit of a misnomer in that this air freshener doesn't actually smell like squash — it has a citrusy sweet scent that many reviewers have compared to Ramune, a popular Japanese soft drink. Since this is a Japanese import product, getting refills might not be as convenient as some of our other picks, but how cool will you sound when you tell passengers that you import your air freshener?

If you're looking for a lot of options and a wide selection of both familiar and seasonal scents, look no further than Bath & Body Works. The shopping mall staple offers a variety of different vent clip styles so you can customize your dashboard, and the multitude of scents will appeal to those who like to switch it up.

One consumer tester noted they are strongly scented, and as such may not be for those who are easily overwhelmed. They also emphasized just how large the scent selection is and how they enjoyed being able to pick their favorite familiar Bath & Body Works scents for use in their vehicle. With over 25 scents currently available online, even the pickiest connoisseur of scent is sure to find something agreeable.

These hanging air fresheners are a massively popular pick for keeping your car smelling nice year-round. They're simple, easy to install, and do exactly what they claim — replace your less palatable car scents with more preferable ones. We are particularly impressed with the sheer number of scents available (over 32 on Amazon!).

While some drivers may not like the distraction of a dangling item in their view, we can't help but admire the simplicity that these offer. If you don't want to hang it from your mirror, you can get creative and tie it around a vent adjuster, door handle or even a headrest. And who said you had to keep them in the car? They're versatile enough to hang anywhere you want a fresh boost.

If you don't like the feeling of a vent clip blowing scented air toward your face as you drive, a more subtle approach may be better. Chemical Guys makes a great-smelling air freshener in a spray format that lets you have more control over your air freshening application.

Testers were pleased by the spray's uniquely sweet and leathery scent that some Amazon reviewers compared to the Air Spencer CS-X3, meaning this may well be a more accessible dupe. While we liked the spray format, we noticed that upon first using it, the nozzle can get a little clogged and deposit more of a stream of liquid than a true mist, so you may want to do a couple of test sprays before applying to avoid depositing too much at once.

Air fresheners are difficult to test in a regimented, controlled way, especially within the confines of the Good Housekeeping Institute, and recreating the environment of a car for such testing is an even bigger feat. Since we don't have the smell chambers necessary to do the most granular testing, we evaluate air fresheners similarly to how consumers do — by using them in our cars and seeing how they stand up to each other in real-life scenarios. We also appraise car air fresheners based on their design appeal, how easy they are to use, and the variety of scents available. We evaluate claims made by different air fresheners and review their formulations and safety data sheets.

While it may be virtually impossible to have your car perennially smell brand new, there are some steps you can take to reduce the displeasing odors in your car and maintain a fresh scent for longer. First of all, preventing odor-causing messes is key. Using items like car seat covers can prevent smelly liquids from seeping into your car's upholstery, and many are machine washable making cleanup super easy. Second, you'll want to clean your car's interior regularly with a handheld vacuum and use a detailing spray or leather wipes to clean the upholstery. We've rounded up the best car cleaning products to help you find exactly what you need. Once your car is sparkly clean, consider using a car air freshener to mask or eliminate odors between cleanings, guaranteeing a fresh-smelling car year-round.

✔ Type: Car air fresheners come in a variety of formats that each have their benefits. Hanging fresheners are the easiest to set up. Vent clips won't obscure your field of vision as you drive and instantly start working once the air begins to circulate. Sprays give you more exact control over how much deodorizing you need, and the "scent-bomb" format lets you make sure every nook and cranny of your vehicle is pleasantly fragranced. When making the decision, consider what's most comfortable when you're driving, and any risks inherent to the type (more on that below).

✔ Scent: Just like household air fresheners, car air fresheners are available in just about every scent you could imagine. This is an area of personal taste rather than objective truth, so you'll want to pick something that you know you and any regular passengers enjoy. If you or any passengers have fragrance sensitivities, a more thorough and regular car cleaning may be a better route than installing an air freshener.

✔ Safety: Consider both the safety of the driver and passengers when choosing your car air freshener. If the driver is apt to be distracted by a swinging object hanging from the rearview mirror, consider vent clips or a spray. If you have kids, make sure they cannot access your air freshener, as many fragrances are irritating and may be harmful if swallowed. Exercise caution and do not remain in the vehicle while using a "scent-bomb" type air freshener.

Nikolas Greenwald has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Northeastern University. He's no stranger to a safety data sheet analysis and uses his knowledge of formulation chemistry and chemical safety to take a look at products being vetted at the Good Housekeeping Institute. He also helps to refine testing protocols and data systems across the Institute based on industry standards and his knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and data science.

As the lab assistant at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Nik (he/him) works with all of our Labs to develop testing protocols and manage data collection and analysis. Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Nik worked in the labs of MIT and Regeneron, working on projects ranging from chemical inventory and reporting to the development of bioassays. He holds a degree in chemical engineering from Northeastern University.

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