We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Travel & Lifestyle Products The 10 Best Car Air Fresheners of 2024 Drive away odors with the best vent clips, diffusers, and sprays. By Jeff Bogle Jeff Bogle For nearly 15 years, through his blog and freelance writing, Jeff has been a trusted voice in the parenting, lifestyle, and travel communities. His passionate approach to storytelling has earned him many fans who rely on his honest opinions about fatherhood, relationships, travel, personal finance, home life, and more. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 14, 2024 Fact checked by Emily Estep Fact checked by Emily Estep Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics that range from film and beauty to science and the automobile industry. Her plant biology degree has a focus on sustainable agriculture, and she’s an expert on growing your own food, environmental sciences, and all topics relating to houseplants. Our Fact-Checking Process In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Final Verdict How to Shop FAQs Take Our Word for It Photo: Real Simple / Alli Waataja Every car smells perfect when fresh off the dealer’s lot, but thanks to aromatic take-out food, stinky pets, and sweaty drives home from the gym, the scents lingering in your ride can quickly turn from pleasant to putrid no matter how often you wash your car at home. Washing the interior of your car, properly cleaning your car seats, and vacuuming regularly can help keep your car smelling fresh, but the best car air fresheners will neutralize odors every day. The best car air fresheners are affordable and last a long time. Of course, which scents smell best is subjective, but there are a variety of options to choose from like floral aromas or fresheners that take into account allergens. To find the best car air fresheners to suit a variety of needs and budgets, we researched the most popular options on the market today, evaluating each one based on factors like price, size, scent, duration, and customer reviews. For expert advice on shopping for car air fresheners and keeping your vehicle clean, we spoke with Anne Mauler, VP of Marketing at Soapy Joe’s Car Wash, and Parham Koukia, lead car detailer at PandaHub.com. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Febreze Unstopables Car Fresh Vent Clips at Amazon $17 Jump to Review Best Budget: Little Trees Black Ice Air Freshener at Amazon $5 Jump to Review Best Splurge: Drift Car Air Freshener at Amazon $13 Jump to Review Best Allergen-Free: Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag at Amazon $44 Jump to Review Best Eco-Friendly: Azuna Auto Air Freshener & Odor Eliminator Gel at Amazon $17 Jump to Review Best Long Lasting: Vilicci Car Air Freshener at Amazon $16 Jump to Review Best Vent Clip: Yankee Candle Vent Clips at Amazon $11 Jump to Review Best Sachets: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Scent Sachet at Amazon $22 Jump to Review Best Diffuser: Anzazo Essential Oil Diffuser Magnetic Locket Set at Amazon $30 Jump to Review Best Spray: Chemical Guys New Car Smell Air Freshener at Amazon $11 Jump to Review Best Overall Febreze Unstopables Car Fresh Vent Clips PHOTO: Amazon $17 at Amazon $7 at Target $9 at Walmart What Stands Out It boasts an impressive 40-day performance. What Could Be Improved Its scent variety is a little limited. great, you’re sure to enjoy this car air freshener vent clip from the brand. The Febreze Unstopables comes with a trio of easy-to-connect clips that quickly click onto almost any car’s vent, allowing your car’s ventilation system to distribute the scent with ease. Moreover, we love that drivers can easily control the intensity of the scent emanating from by simply adjusting the dial on the vent clip. The product should deliver up to 40 days of performance, but expect the number of days to shrink if cranked up to the max scent to help neutralize intense smells from pets, kids, and food. The only slight drawback with this product is that its scent selection is limited to three scents. Type: Vent clip | Scent: Fresh, breeze, and paradise | Duration: 40 days | Size: .07 ounces Best Budget Little Trees Black Ice Air Freshener PHOTO: Amazon $5 at Amazon $5 at Target $5 at Walmart What Stands Out It’s highly affordable and lasts a very long time when used correctly. What Could Be Improved It's somewhat big, which can be distracting while driving. The ubiquitous and classic Little Trees Air Freshener is our top pick for those who want to have access to almost 30 unique scents, without breaking the bank. The fresheners are easy to install, requiring you to simply hang it from your rearview mirror, or anywhere else that needs to be freshened up in your car. If you do place one on your rearview mirror, just note that it's somewhat large, so it can be a little distracting while driving. For people using a classic Little Trees air freshener, Koukia’s expert tip to extend its duration beyond the standard 30 days is to not remove it from the bag immediately, adding that this, “causes it to last a fraction of the potential time.” Instead, he suggests that you, “Slowly pull the bag down as each exposed part loses intensity. It can make them last several weeks. If completely removed from the bag, don’t expect the scent to remain intense for longer than a week or so.” Type: Hanging | Scent: Black Ice, New Car, Strawberry, and more | Duration: 30+ days | Size: 3 count Best Splurge Drift Car Air Freshener PHOTO: Amazon $13 at Amazon View on Drift.co What Stands Out It’s free of phthalates, parabens, and other harsh chemicals What Could Be Improved Buying it in bulk can rack up your total cost. Instead of hanging from a mirror or clipping to the vent, the Drift Car Air Freshener attaches to your car’s visor with a metal clip. The freshener has a simple, yet sophisticated look thanks to its wood block design that’s completely magnetic. To keep your car smelling fresh for up to 30 days, the block is soaked in fragrance oil blends and made from organic materials — no harsh chemicals here. While this car air freshener is of exceptional quality, buying a three-pack of this product is significantly more expensive than other picks that have bulk options. Alternatively, you can sign up for Drift’s “Scent of the Month Club” to receive a new limited-edition scent every month for a less costly price. But if you’re interested in what’s readily available, know that your options are limited to amber, teak, grove, and pine. Type: Visor Clip | Scent: Amber, teak, and more with Scent of the Month Club | Duration: 30 days | Size: 3.5 ounces Best Allergen-Free Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag PHOTO: Amazon $39 at Amazon $11 at Chewy What Stands Out It’s chemical- and fragrance-free, making it a great pick for those with sensitivities. What Could Be Improved Its lack of scent options may make it hard to mask strong odors. Unlike traditional air fresheners that fill a car with a scent to mask or neutralize odor, the Moso Air Purifying Bag removes unwanted smells without overpowering it with another fragrance. Due to this unscented approach, this air freshener doesn’t have any strong chemicals, and it’s allergen-free. The purifier works by using its bamboo charcoal to purify any lingering odors in the air, allowing for a truly neutral car smell. The bags can be refreshed in sunlight for an hour and used for up to two years in total, giving them incredible value. Best of all, when its scent is exhausted, the bamboo charcoal can be used in your garden as a fertilizer. While this pick is certainly great for those with allergies or asthma, its unscented approach may make it difficult to eliminate strong odors. Type: Bag | Scent: Unscented | Duration: 2 years | Size: 7 ounces Best Eco-Friendly Azuna Auto Air Freshener & Odor Eliminator Gel PHOTO: Amazon $17 at Amazon What Stands Out It’s completely plant-based, using only tea tree oil and lemon and is biodegradable. What Could Be Improved It doesn’t attach to anything, so it needs to be placed carefully. The Azuna Auto Air Freshener & Odor Eliminator gel is our top eco-friendly pick due to its biodegradable nature, and completely plant-based composition. The car freshener uses tea tree oil and a hint of refreshing lemon scent to remove smoke, pet smells, mold, and other unpleasant smells from your car. Its non-toxic ingredient list also means its pet- and child-friendly, allowing you to place it where it's needed without worry The product starts working the moment you open the lid and remove the seal. However, since it isn’t a clip or hanging freshener, note that it does have to be placed under the car seat or in a cup holder to ensure it doesn’t slide around while driving. Although it carries a bigger price tag than the other best car air fresheners, this eco-friendly option continues to eliminate smells for up to 90 days, meaning less waste, too. Type: Pod | Scent: Tea tree and lemon | Duration: 60–90 days | Size: 2 ounces Best Long Lasting Vilicci Car Air Freshener PHOTO: Amazon $16 at Amazon What Stands Out It has a variety of elegant scents made with vegan ingredients. What Could Be Improved The upfront price may be out of range for some drivers. The Vilicci Car Air Freshener is a solid long-last option for car owners who are looking for an opulent scent. The available fragrances for this pick include elevated scents like Tobacco Vanilla, tangerine, leather, amber, and more. No matter your pick, each scent lasts up to four months, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your premium aroma. The product comes in a .2 ounce bottle that can be hung from your car’s rear view mirror. The presentation is certainly unique, but remember to flip the bottle before placing it to maximize the scent. While we love the luxury aesthetic and decent longevity of this car air freshener, it does come at a relatively high cost compared to other options on this list. Type: Hanging | Scent: Tobacco Vanilla, tangerine, leather, and more | Duration: 3–4 months | Size: .20 ounces Best Vent Clip Yankee Candle Vent Clips PHOTO: Amazon $11 at Amazon View on Yankeecandle.com What Stands Out It’s completely recyclable and relatively affordable. What Could Be Improved It performs best at a specific temperature. If you already rely upon the pleasant scents of a lit Yankee Candle in your home, the brand’s Smart Scent Vent Clips are no exception. These clips are available in a handful of unique scents, including the musky and wooden Midsummer’s Night, leather, and black cherry, among other choices. Additionally, all of these vent clips are also completely recyclable as a part of Yankee Candle’s partnership with TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based recycling company. The clips work well when the heat or air conditioning is turned on, allowing the scent to diffuse throughout your car. However, the company notes that this product works best when the internal temperature is 70°F, which can be hard to achieve depending on your local climate. Despite this con, these clips are fairly affordable. Type: Vent clip | Scent: Midsummer’s Night, black cherry, leather, lemon lavender, and more | Duration: 30 days | Size: .07 ounce Best Sachets Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Scent Sachet PHOTO: Amazon $22 at Amazon $5 at Target What Stands Out It’s made from all-natural ingredients and is cruelty-free. What Could Be Improved There’s really no way to hang or attach the sachets in a car. Mrs. Meyer’s is a trusted name in the bathrooms and kitchens across the country because of the all-natural ingredients and cruelty-free Leaping Bunny certification. The company’s air freshener sachets also follow suit, and come in a nice variety of scents like lavender, lemon verbena, and basil, to name a few. Moreover, you can purchase each scent in packs of three to always have a few on hand. These sachets pack enough power to last up to 60 days, giving them a decent longevity compared to other car air fresheners. However, the main drawback with this product is that you can’t hang or attach it anywhere in the car. To prevent the bag from flying all over the place while driving, some customer reviews have suggested placing it under the car seat. Type: Sachet | Scent: Lavender, basil, lemon verbena, and more | Duration: 60 days | Size: 2.4 ounces Best Diffuser Anzazo Essential Oil Diffuser Magnetic Locket Set PHOTO: Amazon $30 at Amazon What Stands Out It’s refillable and comes in a classy metallic container. What Could Be Improved The scent doesn’t last very long. The Anzazo Essential Oil Diffuser offers a different approach to eliminating odors in your car with its refillable vessel that works with any essential oil of your choosing. Simply add 2–3 drops of your chosen oil to the product, and attach it to your car vent using its magnetic backing. Afterwards, turn on your car’s air conditioning or heat to get the full fragrance effect from the product. Since you choose your own essential oil, you can guarantee that your car will smell fresh with scents/products you trust. However, the main drawback with this diffuser is that fragrances last only up to a week. After a few days, you’ll likely have to add more drops of your oil to renew its scent. Although this product does require upkeep, if you don’t want to use chemicals, perfumes, or sprays in your car, this is a great alternative. Type: Diffuser | Scent: Any essential oil of your choosing | Duration: 1 week | Size: 1.5 inches Best Spray Chemical Guys New Car Smell Air Freshener PHOTO: Amazon $11 at Amazon $11 at Walmart View on Chemicalguys.com What Stands Out It works quickly to regain that new car smell. What Could Be Improved It doesn’t last very long, and must be reapplied every week. Whether your ride has lost its new car smell due to the passing of time, or you simply like the scent, the Chemical Guys Premium Air Freshener Spray is a great, fast-acting solution. Not only does this spray deliver that famous smell when sprayed on fabrics and carpeted areas of your car, it also actively works to eliminate odors when circulated with the help of your air-conditioner. Although this spray is good for getting the job done quickly, this comes at the cost of it not lasting very long since it can’t be attached and diffused over a period of time. Many reviewers noted that the scent lasted up to about a week before they had to reapply it again. If you’re looking for a long-term solution for freshening up your car, you may find this pick to be a little disappointing. Type: Spray | Scent: New Car | Duration: 1 week | Size: 16 ounces Final Verdict The Febreze Vent Clip is the best car air freshener for drivers who want reliable, long-lasting performance at a good price with minimal effort required. If you’re not into clips, or prefer to spend less money, the classic Little Trees Air Freshener is a great option, and comes in a variety of scents to suit many preferences. How to Shop for Car Air Fresheners Like a Pro Type Car air fresheners can come in the form of classic hangers, vent clips, reusable satchels, and more. The easiest and most affordable option is the hanging air freshener, but they can obscure your vision while driving. Vent clip car air fresheners solve that problem, but only truly work when air is coming in through your vents. Air freshener sprays, on the other hand, let you inject a scent into your car only when and where you want, neutralizing odors in the places they exist. There’s really no wrong answer about which type is better, as it mostly comes down to preference and what makes you most comfortable while driving. Scent Car air fresheners are available in just about every scent imaginable. That being said, the scent that you decide on should be one that you enjoy. However, if you, your friends, family, or ride-share passengers are sensitive to certain scents or chemicals, you may want to consider fragrance-free options. While you may not get an aroma from these unscented products, it’ll still get the job done if you’re looking to neutralize an odor in your car. Duration The duration of your chosen car air freshener will, “Depend on the type of air freshener you’re using, how often you apply them, how strong you set them to be, and where they’re placed,” Koukia explains. While the scented hanging trees can last long when used correctly, vent clips that use your car’s heat and air conditioning systems can blow into your car for up to 40 days or more. If you’re looking for a short-term solution, sprays get the job done quickly, but they don’t last as long as diffusers, vent clips, or hanging products since it doesn’t continue to release a scent over time. However, since the cost of buying long-term solutions can rack up, we recommend buying diffusers, vent clips, etc. in bulk to help save on money. Features Some car air fresheners may offer a variety of features to help them stand out from the rest. For example, Koukia mentions that diffusers offer a cost-effective, long-term solution to keeping your car smelling fresh. “You will pay more for the initial housing of the air freshener, and then pay less to refill your essential oil fresheners with your choice of scented oils,” he explains. Additionally, if you or your rider(s) have any sensitivities, opting for car air fresheners that are fragrance-free or hypoallergenic will prevent any allergic reactions. Questions You Might Ask How long do car air fresheners last? The longevity of your car air freshener will depend on its type. “Those made of scented cardboard stock typically last several weeks but can be made to last longer if the user removes the freshener's plastic sleeve gradually,” Mauler explains. “Scents from sprays are typically short-lived and used primarily for spot treatment on an odor-causing spill or stain.” For lasting performance, she highly suggests a diffuser, as these products release fragrance over a longer period of time using your car’s ventilation system. Are car air fresheners safe for people with allergies or asthma? Mauler notes that people with allergies or asthma need to take care when buying car air fresheners, as certain fragrances can trigger symptoms. Moreover, she also highly recommends cleaning your car’s ventilation system if you’re using a vent clip to also prevent irritation. “[A car’s] AC system can become a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and mildew due to accumulated moisture,” she explains. Are car air fresheners reusable? While diffusers offer a reusable solution to maintaining a car’s scent, Mauler also says that you can extend the life of cardboard air fresheners by applying a few drops of essential oil once the original scent begins to fade. If reducing waste is a priority, Mauler suggests, “Looking for air fresheners with eco-friendly features, like the use of wood pulp, corn-based wrappers instead of plastic.” How can you keep your car smelling fresh? While the best car air fresheners can help your car smell fresh, it’s more important to keep your car clean. Regularly vacuuming floor mats, car seats, and trunk organizers will help prevent your car from developing any smell. “Wipe clean high-touch areas such as door handles, the steering wheel, window and lock controls, and touch-screens, as these can carry odor-causing residue from hands,” Mauler advises. Take Our Word for It This article was written by Jeff Bogle, a contributing writer for Real Simple. To find the best car air fresheners, he researched dozens of different options while considering essential factors such as price, type, duration, scent, and customer ratings. For expert tips and car air freshener shopping advice, Jeff spoke to Anne Mauler from Soapy Joe's Car Wash and Parham Koukia, lead car detailer at PandaHub. The Best Air Fresheners for Ridding Unwanted Odors Once and for All