Where’s the new car smell gone?

[Nathan penney]

I know this might seem a daft question but does anyone know why new cars don’t have that ‘new car smell’ anymore even when brand new?
I personally haven’t had a brand new car since 2006 but I’ve been in a few new car dealers over the years to get cars serviced etc and always have a sit in whatever’s in the showroom. I first noticed at Seat a couple of years ago that the Leon I was in didn’t smell new, then the same at Skoda and today in a ford dealer.
Only the odd car with leather seats had any sort of new smell with it but even that was nothing like when I bought my last new car.
It was always one of the things I looked forward to most when getting a new car.
Anyone with new cars noticed this?

 

[Jimbobcook]

I know this might seem a daft question but does anyone know why new cars don’t have that ‘new car smell’ anymore even when brand new?
I personally haven’t had a brand new car since 2006 but I’ve been in a few new car dealers over the years to get cars serviced etc and always have a sit in whatever’s in the showroom. I first noticed at Seat a couple of years ago that the Leon I was in didn’t smell new, then the same at Skoda and today in a ford dealer.
Only the odd car with leather seats had any sort of new smell with it but even that was nothing like when I bought my last new car.
It was always one of the things I looked forward to most when getting a new car.
Anyone with new cars noticed this?

I'll let you know tomorrow when I'm at a SEAT garage lol

 

[bgb]

It’s the glues, chemicals and alike. They’ve become less obnoxious so don’t linger as long.

plus the quality of materials has degraded over time, which I guess would be less smells, ie leather and natural fibre.

I gave my car a winter wash yesterday, use AG Leather balm and now my car smells like a leather shop

 

[Yern]

I still have (lingering) the new car smell at 6 months - no use of smelly mirror hangers or anything else though.

 

[Nathan penney]

Today been looking at new cars with my sister in law. ( she wants an electric car, so nothing exiting) so I asked the Nissan dealer we were in about the new car smell and he said I wasn’t the first one to mention it. As bgb says above, apparently it is to do with the glues and materials used that aren’t as strong anymore.
The leather in the X trail in the showroom made that car smell nice but all the others didn’t smell of anything.
Seems like I wasn’t imagining it. Lol

 

[bgb]

I still have (lingering) the new car smell at 6 months - no use of smelly mirror hangers or anything else though.

This is also key, don't introduce smells or use heavily scented/harsh interior cleaners for a while!

 

[BadBoy03]

Changing the subject slightly...anyone recommend car coconut products?
When we bought our car it smelt amazing with coconut for about 6 months. I've tried many products such as Xtreme Coconut by California scents, sex wax etc, but no lasting effect. I loathe magic trees etc & won't have anything dangling in my car so if anyone can recommend a subtle but nice car smell/product, I'd be grateful. Sorry to hijack your thread btw!

 

[The Daily Meme]

Changing the subject slightly...anyone recommend car coconut products?
When we bought our car it smelt amazing with coconut for about 6 months. I've tried many products such as Xtreme Coconut by California scents, sex wax etc, but no lasting effect. I loathe magic trees etc & won't have anything dangling in my car so if anyone can recommend a subtle but nice car smell/product, I'd be grateful. Sorry to hijack your thread btw!

"Yankee Candle" actually do air freshners that clip on to the air vents in the car.

They do offer a "new car smell" flavour but my favourite is "Midnight Summer"

There are other brans that i have seen in halfords that offer what looks like a tin of tuna that is designed to sit in the bottom of a cup holder. I've had one of these before and it didnt last very long at all. The yankee candle ones i've had tend to be the best.

 

[Yern]

There are other brans that i have seen in halfords that offer what looks like a tin of tuna that is designed to sit in the bottom of a cup holder.

Something fishy about that one

 

[Mr Pig]

I just had a 2019 Leon courtesy car and it still had new car smell. Maybe not as strong as it used to be but still there.

 

[Syphon]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chemical-Guys-AIR_101_16-New-Freshener/dp/B002J7VX4Y

 

[lc_allan]

This is the very question this owner was wondering

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-50810196