We all know that “new car smell” when finally getting your new car. I have always wondered if it was a specific air freshener that they spray on purpose or was it something else?

Good new car smell
New Car Smell – Adobe Stock images

I did some digging and apparently it is not just one smell, but more like 50+ smells that you are smelling when you get that lovely familiar scent. According to How Stuff Works, the new car smell comprises of 50-60 Volatile Organic Compounds that is used during the manufacturing of your car, the most prominent of which is used to give your windscreen that greasy layer to protect it.

New Car Air Freshener
New Car Fragrance – Adobe Stock Images

Manufacturers are actually working to cut out or reduce the “new car smell”. Not that these chemicals are toxic or bad for you in these quantities, but as the world goes more organic and environmentally friendly, there are more soy or plant based alternatives that can do the same job.

New Car disapproving scent
Disapproved New Car Smell – Adobe Stock Images

Though there are over 50 chemicals that contribute to this smell, there are a few that contribute to the majority of the smells. If you are interested, see some quick facts below –

Toluene:

  • Comes from Crude Oil
  • Found in nail polish remover, paints and glues
  • Used as Anti-Knock agent in gasoline
  • Also found in car exhausts

Ethylbenzene:

  • Comes from Coal Tar and Petroleum
  • Used in Car Paint
  • Also used to create Styrene (next chemical)

Styrene:

  • Chemical created in labs
  • Used in many car parts such as rubber, insulation and carpets
  • Billions of pounds are created each year for cars

Xylenes:

  • Comes from Coal Tar and Petroleum
  • Used for rubber and leather in cars
  • Sweet Smelling and very flammable
  • Top 30 produced product in the USA

Trimethylbenzene:

  • An “Aromatic Hydrocarbon”
  • Used as thinners and an additive for auto-fuel
  • Breaks down in sunlight
New Car Scent
New Car Scent

Even though the “new car smell” isn’t an amazing or fresh smell, it is still the smell of success or money. There is something about getting a new car that says you got a new promotion or your savings has finally paid off. There is a definite sense of reward when getting a new car so naturally the smell will be positive.

Next time you smell it, you now know it’s a lot more complex than you thought!

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