It can often feel like you live in your car which might explain why there is always a combination of odors hanging around. This includes the scent of old fast food, gym clothes, and if you have a furry friend a pet smell too.
Unfortunately, it isn’t all that easy to get rid of those smells regardless of how long you keep the windows rolled down. To remedy this particular situation you need an excellent air freshener which also isn’t all that simple to come by. This is why we decided to compile a list of the best car air freshener on the market, here is what we found.
- Features to Consider in Good Car Air Fresheners
- Top 10 Best Car Air Fresheners 2024
- 1. PURGGO Car Air Freshener
- 2. RoyAroma Car Diffuser Air Freshener
- 3. Air Spencer Car Air Freshener
- 4. Anzazo Air Freshener
- 5. Drive Natural Air Freshener
- 6. Moso Natural Air Freshener
- 7. Yankee Candle Smart Scent Vent Clip
- 8. Febreze Air Freshener Car Vent Clip
- 9. Turtle Wax Odor-X Kinetic Whole Car Blast
- 10. Ozium Car Freshener
- Guide to Buying the Best Car Air Freshener
Features to Consider in Good Car Air Fresheners
To start with, let’s just go through some of the features that we looked at when deciding which air fresheners actually made the cut:
- Ease of Use: the first thing that we examined was just how easy it was to use that particular air freshener. After all, if you want to use the freshener on a regular basis, you don’t actually have a lot of time to fiddle around with various controls or processes.
- Effectiveness: of course, one of the most important aspects of any car freshener is just how well it works to get rid of the smell. We analyzed the level of efficacy of each product and whether it was able to thoroughly get rid of the odors in the car. To add to this, we also determined how well the freshener worked throughout the car as well.
- Placement: there aren’t too many places in your car where you can leave a car air freshener. This is why we also looked at where you could place the product while it was in use.
- Lasting Power: last but not least, we timed how long each of these air fresheners could last when used on a regular basis.
Top 10 Best Car Air Fresheners 2024
1. PURGGO Car Air Freshener
Editor’s Rating:
Method of Odor Elimination
If the idea of chemicals or other artificial forms of odor elimination don’t sit well with you, then you really are going to enjoy what this air freshener has to offer. This is because the pouch is filled with natural bamboo charcoal. The charcoal absorbs any odors in your car, freshening your air.
This is also a suitable option for anyone who has any allergies or sensitivities as there is no fragrance or perfume emitted. Instead, the freshener works to solely get rid of any lingering odors in your car.
Effectiveness and Lasting Power
This is definitely an incredibly effective way of getting rid of unwanted smells in your car. This is because the air freshener doesn’t mask the smells. It actually works to absorb them so that they are completely removed from the air. The only minor inconvenience is that it can take a little while for all of the smells to be gone.
However, when the freshener does start working, you can be quite sure that all of the odors will be removed. This includes the smell of pets and smoke. What’s really great about this freshener, though, is how long it lasts. You can expect to use it for at least a year before you will need to replace it. So, you really will be making a wise investment.
Ease of Use
For the most part, you will find that it is rather simple for you to use this car air freshener. It is just a matter of hanging around your headrest and letting it work. There is only a minor bit of maintenance in the form of letting the freshener ‘re-charge’ every now and then. Simply place the pouch in the sun for a while and it will be good to go.
Pros
- Great at getting rid of a variety of smells
- Natural option
- Good for people with allergies
- Can use for a long time
- Simple to work
Cons
- Can take a while to start working
2. RoyAroma Car Diffuser Air Freshener
Editor’s Rating:
Method of Odor Elimination
This car diffuser air freshener works to neutralize the smells in your car. It does this by permeating a much nicer smell, cloaking the bad odors. This air freshener relies on the evaporation of the essential oils. Once this happens, the smaller particles of oil diffuse through the air, overcoming existing smells. Blasts of air from the air conditioning help the particles to circulate around the car even more.
What’s great about this particular model is that you get to choose the scent that you want. What’s more, you get to use essential oils. So, in addition to being able to get rid of the smells, you also get to enjoy the other positive effects of these oils.
Effectiveness and Lasting Power
The effectiveness of this air freshener largely depends on the type of essential oil that you use. So, if you use a stronger one, you will be able to mask more noticeable odors. However, if you decide to use something milder, this can help to improve the overall scent of the interior of your car without overpowering your senses.
What is a bit unfortunate about this air freshener is that it doesn’t last too long, especially since you can’t fill the diffuser up to the top of the bottle. You can expect the oils to last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, contingent on the essential oils that you place in the diffuser.
Ease of Use
As mentioned, there is some upkeep involved with this diffuser. The only real hassle involved is that you have to keep refilling the tiny bottle on a regular basis. So, this does require a bit more maintenance than other forms of air fresheners.
Pros
- Looks good
- Able to choose your own scent
- Works well
- Natural
- Can be placed anywhere
Cons
- Scent doesn’t last long
3. Air Spencer Car Air Freshener
Editor’s Rating:
Method of Odor Elimination
This particular air freshener consists of both the main structure as well as refillable cassettes. Now, the cassettes contain a gel-like substance that has a spunky, bubblegum smell. The way this works is that the scented particles from the freshener are released into the air. This allows them to overpower other unpleasant smells in the car, eventually ensuring that the interior smells good.
Effectiveness and Lasting Power
Straight out of the box, the smell of this air freshener can be a tad bit overpowering. However, the good news is that you can actually regulate the scent. This can be done with the help of the controls on the main box. So, depending on whether you want to mask a bad smell or just to freshen the interior of your car up, you can choose the setting accordingly.
Now, for the most part, the level that you keep the air freshener at will determine just how long it will last. So, on a lower setting, you can expect this freshener to last longer. Still, even at full-strength, you can get around two weeks of fragrance out of this product. The only downside is that constantly have to re-stock the cassettes can get a little pricey, especially if you tend to use the air freshener often.
Ease of Use
This is actually a rather simple air freshener to use. For one thing, it is equipped with double-sided tape. So, you get to choose where you want to keep the freshener – in the back or the front of the car. There is also the fact that you don’t actually have to fiddle around with it too much. It is only when the cassette is empty that you have to replace it with a new one.
Pros
- Can get rid of smells
- Can regulate scent
- Easy to use
- Can be placed anywhere
Cons
- Refills can be pricey
4. Anzazo Air Freshener
Editor’s Rating:
Method of Odor Elimination
This air freshener relies on essential oils and the pressure of the air conditioning to circulate the fragrance throughout the car. This air freshener clip comes with pads that can be dipped in the essential oil of your choosing and then placed inside the clip. Then, with the help of their air coming through the vents, the essential oils are transformed into air droplets, making it easier for them to move through the car.
Now, there are several advantages to this method. For one thing, it is a natural option so you don’t have to worry about any harsh or synthetic scents in your car. There is also the fact that you get to decide on the scent that you want. So, you can actually switch the fragrances up every so often.
Effectiveness and Lasting Power
This diffuser is actually incredibly effective at transferring the scent through the interior of the car. Being placed on the vents means that the entire car will smell great, not just the front. Due to this, it actually works well to get rid of a variety of different bad odors.
The only issue with this option is that it doesn’t last for too long. Each pad will not last for more than a few days – although they can be reused. So, you will find that you will have to keep topping up the pads every so often.
Ease of Use
It isn’t too difficult to use this air freshener. Once it is clipped onto the vent, it will not budge. The only hassle that you will face is having to keep dipping the pads in the essential oils, whenever they run dry. Apart from this, you can just leave the freshener alone and let it work its magic.
Pros
- Can choose your own scent
- Scent can spread through car
- Looks good
- Natural
Cons
- Doesn’t last too long
5. Drive Natural Air Freshener
Editor’s Rating:
Method of Odor Elimination
The pouch contains Moso bamboo activated charcoal. This is a substance that is very porous and as such, has a tendency to absorb surrounding smells. So, when you place this pouch in your car, it begins to absorb all of the offending air particles into it which is how it gets rid of any bad smells in your car. This is also is quite great if your car has a moldy smell. The charcoal is able to reduce the moisture level, thus preventing mold and mildew.
One of the main advantages of this air freshener is that it is completely natural so there are no synthetic chemicals or materials involved. Also, since there is no fragrance or scent given out, it is also ideal for anyone who has any perfume allergies.
Effectiveness and Lasting Power
In the beginning, it can be a bit tricky to tell if this air freshener is actually working. This, however, is only because this pouch does take a little while to completely get rid of the smell. However, within a few days, you will notice that all offensive smells will be gone. What is so great about this pouch is that it completely eradicates the bad smells rather than just masking them.
As for lasting power, this air freshener can actually be reused up to two years. This means that you will not have to go out and buy and refills or replacements of any kind.
Ease of Use
A perk with this pouch is that you can place it anywhere that you want. So, if the smell is concentrated in one area, you can keep the pouch there until it is gone. The only thing that you actually have to do is to leave the pouch out in the sun every now and then so it can freshen up for further use.
Pros
- Gets rid of smells completely
- Can be reused for up to two years
- Can be placed anywhere
- Natural
- Good for anyone with allergies
Cons
- Takes a while to start working fully
6. Moso Natural Air Freshener
Editor’s Rating:
Method of Odor Elimination
This air freshener contains natural Moso bamboo charcoal inside of the pouch. Now, this type of charcoal is actually a lot more porous than the others, which makes it perfect for absorbing different odors. Now, this pouch doesn’t contain any fragrance – instead, it works to remove any bad smelling particles from the air. The pouch is actually quite effective against mold smells as well – this is because it reduces the humidity in the car, preventing the growth of mold or mildew. This is why the surrounding area then smells fresh.
This is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to have to resort to synthetic chemicals. It is also a good option if you don’t want the interior of your car to smell fragrant but neutral instead. This type of air freshener also works well if you have any kind of allergies at all too.
Effectiveness and Lasting Power
This air freshener is certainly effective at getting rid of mild, lingering odors. So, if your car is in need of freshening up, this is definitely what you should turn to. What it isn’t so good at, however, is eliminating stronger or overpowering scents. While it will reduce the strength of the odors, it will not eliminate them completely.
On the plus side, this is an air freshener that will last a long time. In fact, if you use it properly, it will prove to be re-usable for up to two years. In this sense, it really is a good value for money.
Ease of Use
This pouch can easily be moved around and placed virtually anywhere in your car. Due to this, it is great for getting rid of smells in localized areas such as the trunk. While it doesn’t require any maintenance, you should remember to keep it out in the sun every so often so that the charcoal can cleanse itself and be ready to be used again.
Pros
- Can be placed anywhere
- Gets rid of mild smells
- Can be used for a long time
- Natural
- Suitable for anyone with allergies
Cons
- May be ineffective against strong odors
7. Yankee Candle Smart Scent Vent Clip
Editor’s Rating:
Method of Odor Elimination
The Yankee Candle air freshener has to be clipped onto your air conditioning vents. Then, the liquid in the container is emitted into the surroundings as smaller air droplets. As a result, they are able to travel more efficiently and so can spread further throughout the car. The air conditioning also helps with the circulation of the scented droplets.
The scented air droplets can help to overpower any of the other lingering smells in the car. So, with continuous use, you will begin to notice that the bad smells are replaced with a much more pleasant scent. This is how this particular air freshener eliminates bad odors.
Effectiveness and Lasting Power
This air freshener works well to spread through the car, neutralizing bad odors. As a result, you are just left with a lovely fragrance of your choosing. At the same time, the air freshener smell isn’t overpowering so you will not get tired of it any time soon. Also, you can adjust the settings according to the level of scent that you prefer.
One of the main disadvantages of this air freshener is that it doesn’t last too long. While it is supposed to last for around a month, it will only work for about a couple of weeks, before it needs to be replaced. Of course, this does depend on how often you use the air freshener in your car. Fortunately, it is easy to see the freshener reservoir so you will be able to tell exactly when the reserve is depleted.
Ease of Use
The concept behind this air freshener is fairly simple. There is a clip on the back that allows you to attach it to your air conditioning vents. Now, the only issue is that the clip is rather rigid in an attempt to keep the air freshener in place. So, while it does attach easily onto some vents, you will find that you might have a harder time with thicker vents. The clips aren’t flexible enough to widen properly.
Pros
- Pleasant smell
- Can spread through the car
- Adjustable scent
- Easy to attach to some vents
Cons
- Runs out a bit quickly
- Difficult to attach to thicker vents
8. Febreze Air Freshener Car Vent Clip
Editor’s Rating:
Method of Odor Elimination
This vent clip must be attached to your air conditioning vent in order to function. When the air is turned on, the liquid in the clip is diffused as scented air droplets. Since these are lighter in this form, they are able to travel throughout the car, spreading the scent further. This is how the bad odors in your car are neutralized.
The number of pleasantly scented droplets outnumber the bad odors, eventually ensuring that only the Febreze scent can be detected. The air conditioning works to make sure that every inch of your car can be scented with this air freshener.
Effectiveness and Lasting Power
The scent from this air freshener is actually rather strong which is why it works so well to get rid of any bad odors. However, it doesn’t have to be overpowering. This is all thanks to the lever at the back of the clip that lets you control how much scent is being released. So, depending on your preference, you can either opt for a stronger or lighter scent. Now, that being said, you should note that this air freshener is a rather sweet smelling fragrance which may not be a good choice for everyone.
The only other issue with this air freshener is that it evaporates rather quickly. This is true even if you stick to the lowest setting. As a result, each clip will not last for more than a couple of weeks at a time. So, if you want to keep rebuying this air freshener it can be a bit pricey.
Ease of Use
You will find this vent clip incredibly simple to use. It is just a matter of fixing it onto your vent and letting it be. The clip is strong enough to hold the weight of the air freshener with ease.
Pros
- Scent permeates through the car
- Can be adjusted
- Easy to use
Cons
- Can be a bit too sweet-smelling for some
- Runs out quickly
9. Turtle Wax Odor-X Kinetic Whole Car Blast
Editor’s Rating:
Method of Odor Elimination
This particular air freshener relies on Odor-X technology which, in turn, is based on micro-cleaners. These are tiny particles that work to eliminate the particles of the unpleasant odors. What makes these micro-cleaners different is that they aren’t just effective in the air, they also work to remove smells from various other surfaces, including upholstery.
The other perk with this air freshener is that the smell and the micro-cleaners are able to spread incredibly far away. This is what allows them to get to every inch of your vehicle, even if you have a larger car.
Effectiveness and Lasting Power
You will quickly realize just how effective this air freshener is once you start to use. However, it should be noted that the smell can be rather overpowering, especially if you have a small car. So, if you are sensitive to such scents, you may find that this air freshener is just too much. However, this does make it very effective at dealing with very persistent odors. If you have previously been having trouble with a lingering smell, this air freshener will definitely help.
While this product is a one-time use type, it does help to keep the smells away for a longer time. So, you should find that it can ward off odors for up to 30 days at a time. However, if the smells do come back, then you are going to have to resort to using yet another canister.
Ease of Use
The air freshener is rather simple to use. You just have to press down on the valve and let all of the substance be released into the air for 15 minutes or so. In this sense, there isn’t a whole lot for you to do.
Pros
- Very effective against strong, bad odors
- Works quickly
- Works on various surfaces
- Smell travels throughout the car
- Simple to use
Cons
- Very overpowering, especially for small cars
- Can be used only one time
10. Ozium Car Freshener
Editor’s Rating:
Method of Odor Elimination
One of the ways that this particular air freshener stands out from the others is that it doesn’t just mask the bad odors, it actually eliminates it completely. See, this freshener has the ability to change the molecular structure of the bad odors that it comes into contact with. In doing so, it is able to strip these molecules of the element that makes them smell bad.
At the same time, this freshener does come with a smell of its own. So, not only does it purify the surrounding air, it also adds a pleasant scent. This way, you get two actions in one. It should be noted, though, that the particles from this freshener don’t travel all that far and so isn’t great for large vehicles.
Effectiveness and Lasting Power
Due to the dual benefit of this air freshener, it is actually very effective. So, if you have a car that has a lingering smoke smell, you will quickly be able to notice a difference. This air freshener works just as well for a variety of other smells as well. Now, this air freshener does come with an adjustable option. Depending on how you turn the top, you can choose just how much air freshener is coming through.
However, this air freshener doesn’t maintain its performance for too long. In the beginning, it works well to keep all kinds of odors at bay. After a while, though, it loses its potency, meaning that you will need to get another one.
Ease of Use
There is absolutely no effort involved in using this air freshener at all. Once it has been opened, you can leave it to its own devices. Since it is portable, you can leave it wherever you want in the car so that particular spot can be cleaned thoroughly.
Pros
- Simple to use
- Can be placed anywhere in the car
- Works well for bad odors
- Good for small vehicles
- Scent can be adjusted
Cons
- Not powerful enough for larger vehicles
- Doesn’t last long
Guide to Buying the Best Car Air Freshener
In this section, we will go through all of the various features and properties that you will need to take into consideration when choosing an air freshener:
Which Type Should You Choose?
Let’s take a look at some of the most common type of air fresheners to determine which one you should choose:
Aerosol
This is perhaps one of the most traditional methods of car air fresheners. The main advantages of this type of freshener are that they are affordable and are simple to use.
They also work quickly to overcome or get rid of any scents that are lingering in your car.
There are some disadvantages, however, in using aerosol sprays. For one thing, the effort is localized and the scent will often not move beyond a certain point.
Also, these sprays don’t last very long and the scent can dissipate rather quickly.
Gel
Just as popular as the aerosol is the gel versions and these too, have been around for a while. Some of the perks of using this type of freshener include a nice, strong scent.
They also can be moved from one place to another so you can change the position, depending on which area that you want to freshen up.
The downside, though, is that the smell often can’t permeate too far from the point of origin.
Diffusers
The most common types of diffusers rely on essential oils. These are perforated objects that either contain oil-soaked pads or the essential oils themselves.
The scent dissipates through these perforations and can spread through the air.
The main advantage of this kind of freshener is that you get to choose the scent that you want to experience. At the same time, essential oils are natural and have many other health benefits.
The only issue is that these diffusers have to be refilled on a regular basis as the oil is diffused rather quickly.
Vent Clips
Then, there are fresheners that can be clipped onto the air vents in your car. These contain a scented liquid that is pushed out as air particles thanks to the air conditioning.
Due to this mechanism, you can ensure that the smell can travel farther and can reach the whole interior of your car. They can also be placed on any vent in the car.
Unfortunately, these fresheners have a short lifespan as they get used up quite quickly, making them a bit of a pricey investment.
Charcoal Air Fresheners
Finally, there are charcoal fresheners and these, too, are gaining in popularity due to the natural mechanism behind them.
Here, the charcoal absorbs the foul odors so that the air is cleansed and smells fresh again.
However, these fresheners don’t actually add any perfume into the air. It can also take a while for this fresheners to eliminate smells completely.
Choose the Right Scent
If you decide to go with an air freshener that produces a fragrance, then it is important to select the right one.
Of course, the exact fragrance varies from brand to brand but you should still stick with one that is familiar to you.
Always consider fragrances that you typically find soothing so that there is a better chance of you picking one that you actually like.
Look for Adjustment Features
If you tend to have a rather sensitive nose, then you will not appreciate an overly strong fragrance. This is why it can be helpful to look for a freshener that can be adjusted.
This is also good for anyone who wants to keep their air freshener on at all times. With this mechanism, you can change the settings according to the situation.
How Long Should It Last?
As we have already mentioned, the exact time each of these fresheners last largely depends on the mechanism.
However, it is vital that you think about how long your freshener should last.
Now, if you are just trying to get rid of a temporary, lingering smell, then it will not matter if the freshener doesn’t last long.
Nonetheless, if you are looking for a product to keep the interior of your car fresh for a long time, then you may want to consider something that lasts longer.
Consider the Style
Now, style may not be the most important feature here but it can be rather significant. For instance, if you care what the interior of your car looks like, then you may want a more subtle design.
In this instance, vent clips and diffusers are often a good bet.
Or, you can just look for an air freshener that can easily be hidden under your seat.
After going through all of this, you should have a better idea of what to look for in a car air freshener. Our reviews will also help you to make this decision a little easier for you.
So, all that is left is for you to do is to make a selection.
