The Best Car Air Fresheners (Review) in 2019

Remember that story we mentioned up top about the guy who melted his dashboard with an air freshener? Well you certainly don’t have to worry about that with this product.

This item is an entirely natural – and so harsh chemical free – way to remove odors from your car. It is essentially a linen bag that contains natural bamboo charcoal and nothing else.

The activated charcoal essentially scrubs the air of excess moisture that can be a breeding ground for nasties like mold, mildew, bacteria – these are the things that really cause bad odors. Stop them in their tracks using products like this one and you don’t need to worry about bad odors in your car – they simply don’t exist!

After care couldn’t be easier either – just take it out your car every month and leave in the sun to dry and re-activate. After two years use (yes – two years!) instead of tossing it in the trash, you open the bag and sprinkle the charcoal on your favorite plant as tasty, nutritious plant feed.

How cool is that?

This cool gadget looks like it’s just been beamed down from the USS Enterprise, right? Actually, it works on the same principal as the product above – though that is where the similarities end!

Like the charcoal based product, this too works to eliminate the causes of bad odors before they can develop. Instead of removing excess moisture however, this device releases negatively charged ions into your car cabin. These ions effectively purify the air by destroying things that could cause odors – again like bacteria and mold.

It can also target things like cigarette smoke that can hang around for a long time. Yes, it’s pretty futuristic but it is based on actual technology and science – negative ions are a real thing naturally found in the real world.

The device operates simply by plugging into the 12-volt charger in your car, and has no filters or refills required over its working life. Simply plug it in, turn it on and away it goes.

Who doesn’t love that new car smell – and who doesn’t miss it when it inevitability goes away? If that sounds like you then this product could be the one for you.

This is our first spray can on this list, but as usual the principle is the same. The spray contains compounds that target and eliminate the sources of bad odors in your car. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean it’s going after your dog! It works on a molecular level, so again is targeting those nasty bacterial and mold spores, stopping bad smells fast.

As a spray, it has the added advantage of being able to pass through the vehicle ventilation system, helping it to get into all the nooks and crannies in there to root out even well hidden odor causes.

As a final bonus it helps to leave behind that all-important “new car smell” – even in a car that was “new” when Clinton was in the White House.  

Usually when a product comes along with “premium” right there in the name, we’re a little skeptical. After all, if you’re putting it right up there in the product name, you’re already setting a high bar for yourself. Fortunately, when it also comes with the name Chemical Guys attached, then you can believe the hype.

This is a premium product, rest assured. It contains natural enzymes that – you guessed it – go to work taking out all the junk in the air that causes bad odors. It is also specially formulated to re-create that cool “new car” smell that you know we love!

As a premium product it does of course come with a somewhat premium price tag – however this is offset somewhat because this is actually a concentrated product. You can use it neat – in which case use it very, very sparingly – but you can also dilute it down with water.

That helps to offset the price tag somewhat, making this product both effective and economical.

This is the first of what would be considered a traditional air freshener to appear on the list. It does not contain enzymes, it does not shoot out ions to target mold spores – you simply tape it to your dash (or leave it in a door or dash cup holder) and let it do its job.

The question then is does it do it – and the answer is a resounding yes! The Squash scent air freshener has been around for years and years. In fact the first time you smell it, chances are it will transport you straight back to your childhood!

And you will smell it, this is a pretty strong product although it toes the line just the right side of being overpowering. It will definitely cover up bad smells and bring a nice aroma to your car. It lasts about a month, and refills are pretty cheap too, so it’s a decent long-term investment.

This is a great little product that does exactly what it says on the label – i.e. it eliminates bad smells, especially from smoking.

It’s really easy to use too – you simply twist the lid to reveal the built in vents. Leave the vents open a little wider to get better odor control, close them up a bit to add a little extra time to the product lifespan – it’s up to you!

It’s also comes with it’s own built in (and kind of unique, it’s hard to describe) perfume that it gently releases – but it’s not overpowering, don’t worry.

What more can you say? This is a pretty cheap product that does everything that it claims it will.

Hands up – when you started reading this article on car air fresheners, who didn’t expect to see these iconic products make it onto the list?

Truth is, when you think air freshener, the image in your mind almost certainly goes to the little tree hanging from the rear view – and with good reason. This product by this brand has been around for years, and whilst it may not have the high tech abilities of some of the products on this list, it is certainly one that has stood the test of time.

It’s hard to write about these, because everyone knows what they are, right? They hang from the rear view, they smell great – simple! One complaint has always been that the odor perhaps doesn’t last as long as with other products.

Since these come in a pack of 24 though, you can easily replace them as the perfume fades. A great, traditional product that been around almost for as long cars themselves!

I know exactly what you’re thinking – surely a lit candle is going to be a hazard whilst driving, right?

All jokes aside, this is of course not a traditional Yankee Candle – it’s actually a gel product that hangs from the rear view – though you could also tack it to the dash or leave it in a cup holder if you prefer.

Whilst it is not a candle, this product does take advantage of the years of premium fragrance making of a reputable brand like Yankee. What does that mean in practical terms – it means it smells great!

Again, it also neutralizes odors pretty effectively too, allowing it to work on to fronts of odor elimination, and also creating a nice smelling atmosphere for your car.

If you’re thinking of setting the mood right for a really romantic evening with your loved one, you don’t need some fancy restaurant to set every in order. Clipping the GerTong into one of your car’s aircon vents should really start spicing up the evening. Of course, you’d have to pick the right scent from the 11 aromatherapy essential oil diffuser refill pads that the package comes with.

The thing is that, since the GerTong is a handy aromatherapy diffuser that can be snapped right into your car’s AC vents, you might as well have a mobile spa right inside your car. It’s the perfect device to help you relax, set you in the mood, and even alleviate some of the aches that you’re experiencing after a hard day in the office. Again, the thing here is you’ve got to have a working knowledge of the different essential oils used in aromatherapy and the benefits that they bring.

Not only is this air freshener ideal for cars, it can actually be converted into your own portable essential oil diffuser for home, office, or even travel use. You don’t have to worry about troublesome smell anymore since it’s the soothing and relaxing scent of aromatherapy oils that will be bathing your senses.

With notes of sweet ripe banana combining with the nutty goodness of tropical coconut filling your nose, this car air freshener provides an entirely different riding experience. Putting it simply, you’ll be driving yourself towards the idyllic beaches and virgin rainforests of a tropical island paradise.

That’s the experience one gets with every tin can of the Refresh Your Car. With a choice of Hawaiian Sunrise, Summer Breeze, and Pacific Rain and a few others providing a refreshing fragrance to your car, you can always be sure that the ride will feel nothing less than paradise-like. Not only is every can of this car air freshener fully capable of bringing sensations of paradise inside your car, it also does a great job eliminating nasty odors.

Controlling the strength of the scent that fills your car’s cabin is quite difficult with conventional air fresheners. With the Refresh Your Car, fine-tuning the degree of fragrance that floods your cabin is made ridiculously simple with a twist of its scent control lid. It’s an otherwise simple solution that other manufacturers perhaps did not really think about. For that, the Refresh Your Car gets a nice thumb’s up.

The issue with most car air fresheners is that they have to be placed right in front of the air con vent to allow the scent to be circulated throughout the cabin of the car. While this is quite understandable, the presence of a gadget or contraption that can detract from the overall aesthetics of one’s car interior can be an issue that is not easily passed by some car owners. And if you’re one of them, you’d want something that easily blends with the rest of your car’s interior.

That’s exactly what the Little Trees bring to the table. Looking at the package you’d think this car air freshener is just like other products that need to be hanged on your rearview mirror or clipped to your air convent. But once you open the package, you’d be surprised at just how small this contraption is. Moreover, you’d be asking yourself how such a small piece of technology can help you freshen up your cabin.

With a patent-pending StediScent technology, the Little Trees car air freshener actually hugs a single slat in your air convent. The way in which the Little Trees is designed is that it blends seamlessly with the black background of the vent so your passengers won’t exactly know where that lovely fragrance is coming from. It’s the perfect tool for keeping your car smelling fresh, making others think that you’re so meticulous in the care of your vehicle.

If you’re like some car owners who don’t necessarily believe in masking an odor with another, more pleasant scent, you’d definitely grab the Nova 2.0, too. Understand, however, that this is not a car air freshener per se, but rather a car air purifier.

It works by emitting 5.6 millions of negatively charged particles per second into the air. These anions interact with particles in the cabin air so that they are effectively neutralized. The good thing about the Nova and other similar designs is that the ionizing particles neutralize not only odor molecules, but also bacteria, viruses, fungi, allergens, and other potentially harmful molecules floating inside your car.

There’s another beauty to the Nova 2.0. It produces ozone in very minimal amounts, but enough to get rid of even the nastiest odors like cigarette smoke, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and many others. You may not be filling your car interior with the most fragrant smell, but you’re surely turning it into something fresher, cleaner, and definitely healthier.

The Nova 2.0 easily plugs into your cigarette lighter adaptor and already comes with 2 USB ports to extend its versatility. The decorative blue LED light at the top also makes for an interesting mood light inside your car.

Are you looking for a car air freshener that looks as elegant as it is effective in giving your car interior the kind of freshness that it really needs? Well, look no further as the Carall is simply one of the most elegant, most luxurious gel type car air fresheners we’ve seen.

With a candy sweet scent that lasts up to 60 days, definitely longer than other products we’ve used before, the Carall comes in an elegant-looking blue glass that is reminiscent of those luxury glasses served in some high-end club. The stainless steel lid provides a remarkable contrast to its blue body, more like a luxury yacht anchored in the Caribbean.

But don’t just take our word for it. You’ve got to experience it to really appreciate the beauty of the Carall. What’s more, since it comes in a glass type of container, you can easily bring and use it at home, in the office, or even in your hotel room during one of your travels. It’s that cool.

More like a miniature soundbar, the Humixx is a minimalist, simple, and contemporary-looking design of car air freshener that is as easy to use as it is effective in putting the sensation of freshness back in your car.

Measuring a mere 3.26 inches long, the Humixx bar can be easily clipped onto any of the slats of your car air convent. Numerous holes perforate the barrel. The holes work seamlessly with its twist cap design to give you exceptional control of the degree of scent that your nose can tolerate. This way you won’t complain of the scent being too strong for your nostrils’ liking.

Scent bars can be easily inserted through the tubular body of the Humixx, giving you instant fragrance wherever you may be driving. The package already comes with 3 scent bars – orange, lime, and olive. Sadly, you’re essentially stuck with these 3 aromas. We surely wish there were more choices as not everyone will consider these scents to be their preferred aroma.

Fans of the NFL will love this car air freshener from Team ProMark. We believe that it’s going to be more of a collectible than it is primarily an auto air freshener. And if we are going to read the feedback of the car owners who have been lucky enough to buy these products for their car, we’re inclined to believe that it’s more for decorative purposes.

For starters, the scent is definitely there. The problem is that it really doesn’t last that long. So, after several hours of driving around, you’ll be left with nothing more than a cardboard cutout of the football helmet of your favorite NFL team.

Like we said, it’s a great gift for avid followers of the game. But if you’re looking for some serious freshening of your car, this one’s definitely not for you. It’s a collector’s item, nonetheless, being officially licensed by the NFL itself.