Too many car fresheners are here and gone faster than the latest social media trends. The frustration you feel after each let-down makes it even more difficult to try another “long-lasting” car scent, especially after spending your hard-earned money on duds. If you’ve tried out more than your fair share of off-the-shelf car fresheners than your average shopping haul account, your search for a long-lasting car air freshener ends here. 

The guide below features five scent hacks you can use to make your car air freshener last longer and your dollar stretch further. However, if you purchase a Drift car freshener, you can leave all of these hacks behind. Enjoy a Drift long-lasting car air freshener for up to 30 days or more before you have to replace it with another premium long-lasting car scent.

Why Do Car Scents Fade? Understanding Fragrance Lifespan

It’s an unfortunate fact that car air fresheners don’t last forever. Even long-lasting car scents can’t last for months on end without being refreshed periodically. Below are the most common reasons why car scents fade with time: 

• Evaporation: Scents naturally evaporate over time.

• Air circulation: The air circulating through the interior cabin reduces the fragrance’s intensity. 

• Temperature fluctuations: Heat accelerates evaporative processes while the cold dulls scent release. 

• Exposure to sunlight: Strong UV rays break down the scent molecules, increasing absorption and evaporation. 

• Absorption: The upholstery—leather and cloth—and the carpeting in your vehicle absorb the fragrance. 

• Low quality: Thinly applied, inferior car scents suffer from uneven fragrance release or lack of potency.

• Overuse/Desensitization: The longer you experience the smell, the more you become accustomed to it. 

Avoiding some of the situations or product types listed above can increase the lifespan of your car air freshener. In addition, keep reading to discover five ways to prolong the life of any car freshener.

5 Hacks to Make Your Car Air Freshener Last Longer

Regardless of the specific car air freshener you choose, the following car freshener tips can help make it last longer. Use these hacks with your favorite car freshener to extend its lifespan and keep your car smelling great for miles. Don’t forget to stay tuned for our bonus tip!

1. Place Away from Direct Sunlight 

As you learned from the previous section, evaporation and absorption can drastically shorten the lifespan of any car air freshener, regardless of quality. If you keep the product away from direct sunlight, it should last longer. Plus, shielding your car’s interior from these harmful UV rays can also prevent fading.

2. Adjust Air Vent Flow

During hot summer days and cold winter mornings, it seems like all you can do to get the fan blowing inside your car’s cabin to cool things down or warm them up. However, adjusting the air vent flow to skim just over the top of a car air freshener can help it last longer. If you want a long-lasting car air freshener that’s good for months, keep it out of the flow of air entirely for pure passive diffusion.

3. Store Extras Carefully

Buying car fresheners in bulk can help save you money, but the key to getting the most return on your investment lies in how you store the extras. Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from any heat sources. Storing them in their original packaging can also help maintain their long-lasting scent. 

4. Close Windows When Not in Use

Once you install a car freshener in your vehicle, it’s best to keep the windows closed while it’s parked. This will help infuse the interior with a concentration of fragrance and allow the car freshener itself to maintain its potency. 

5. Layer and Exchange Scents

What better way to extend the life of a scent than by adding another one to it? Layering and even exchanging car air fresheners can help create both a complex and long-lasting car scent. As one scent fades, another takes its place to continue establishing an intriguing ambiance. 

Bonus Tip: Invest in a Luxury Drift Car Freshener

Following the steps above can help you extend the life of your car air freshener, but here’s a bonus tip for you: a Drift premium car freshener lasts just as long without all the hassle. Plus, Drift car fresheners are made from sustainably sourced materials infused with clean fragrance and essential oils. Select from our Stone, Metal, and Wood car fresheners, in addition to the following signature scents: 

• Amber: Eucalyptus, golden amber, vanilla, French lavender

• Cabana: Bergamot, coconut, cedarwood, sea salt

• Grove: Juicy citrus, vanilla sugar, mountain greens, blond wood

• Open Air: Fresh air, crisp linen, morning dew, white wood 

• Pine: Mountain pine, moss, cedarwood, musk

• Teak: Cedar atlas, amber, teakwood, oakmoss

Drift’s long-lasting car scents are also free from harsh chemicals like DEA, formaldehyde, phthalates, and parabens. Each scent block is cruelty-free, vegan, and safe for use around children and pets. Did we mention that Drift long-lasting car air fresheners last for up to 30 days or longer?

Never Let It Fade: Maintenance Tips for a Consistently Fresh Car

Investing in a long-lasting car scent can help your car smell better for longer, but there’s more work to be done if you want to maximize your results. The more you can do to minimize malodors from lingering in your car, the longer your fresh fragrance will last. Here are tips to help you keep your car feeling and smelling clean: 

• Wipe down the dashboard, center console, steering wheel, and shifter 

• Besides water, avoid eating or drinking in the car

• Clean up any messes immediately to prevent stains and lingering odors

• Carefully clean your car’s air vents with a Q-tip or microfiber cloth 

• Regularly vacuum the carpets and upholstery 

• Wash your floor mats every time you visit the car wash

• Let your car air out periodically 

The more you do on a daily basis to keep your car clean, the better. Washable seat covers can also help easily remove foul odors if you have a furry friend that likes to accompany you in the car. If you live in a particularly cold or wet climate, scheduling a seasonal deep clean can help ensure no odors take hold in your vehicle.

Drift: Luxe, Long-Lasting Car Air Fresheners for Your Ride

From the first moment you put a Drift car freshener in your vehicle to the last drop of scent it infuses into the cabin, you’ll experience the same level of luxury fragrance. Explore each of our mainstay scents and subscribe to our Scent of the Month Club to receive exclusive access to seasonal scents worth waiting for. Plus, when you refer a friend, you get your next car scent for free, and they receive half off their first subscription.