The Car Scent Gadget That Finally Got Rid of That “Old Fries” Smell

Sure, I’m guilty of downing handfuls of fast-food fries in my car, and a few of them might not have ended up in my mouth. When I started noticing that greasy, pungent stink, I knew I had to do something to get rid of that “old fries” smell. But even a thorough vacuuming and a deep clean of the interior couldn’t break its hold—every sniff reminded me of that one fast-food meal I had months ago. 

Enter the Drift signature car freshener, a premium car gadget that’s the only thing I’ve found that will remove the “old fries” smell for good. These slick car fresheners slip onto your visor or clip onto an air vent and passively emit scent so you can enjoy your next turn behind the wheel—without having to relive every one of those greasy fries. Plus, I subscribe to the Scent of the Month Club and get a fresh scent every month, so I can keep that “old fries” smell gone for good. 

Why Can’t I Get Rid of That “Old Fries” Smell?

The problem with fries that have spilled onto the carpet and dropped into the crevices between seats is that even sucking them up with the vacuum doesn’t get rid of the slightly rancid and salty odor. Little crumbs and drops of frying oil seep into the carpet, embedding themselves in the fibers. Even the vents start picking up the smell, recirculating it until it’s practically everywhere in my car. 

Once the smell gets into everything, I don’t know where to start trying to get rid of it. At this point, I’ve removed every visual trace of those pesky fries, but it still feels like there’s a handful stuck somewhere. I’ve convinced myself they’re grown legs and have scurried off underneath a seat to haunt me forever. 

Why Average Car Fresheners Only Mask the Odor of “Old Fries”

A typical car freshener may mask the “old fries” smell, but it can’t quite shake the odor from my car’s interior. I’ve tried using scented sprays that smell good for a few hours, but then fade and leave me with that terrible smell. I’ve gone through an entire bottle trying to keep that smell at bay, but to no avail. 

Gel beads and canned air fresheners were my next attempt at renewing the scent in my car. I got similar results, with a huge infusion of scent at the very beginning that faded within a few weeks. It lasted longer than the car refreshing spray, but the “old fries” smell was still there. 

After that, I tried every trick in the book, from putting coffee grounds in the car overnight to DIY scent sachets to cotton balls with drops of essential oil. Nothing lasted long enough for me to forget that I had scarfed down those fries in a fit of hangry desperation. At this point, I was regretting ever eating that meal, and my newly minted rule of no food in the car wasn’t giving me the results I wanted. 

Suffice it to say, I had nearly lost hope that there were any car gadgets out there that could help resolve my situation. What kind of scent technology could possibly eliminate the “old fries” smell and its hold on my vehicle? Then I found Drift. 

How Drift Car Fresheners Kill That Pesky “Old Fries” Smell

The best part about Drift’s premium car fresheners isn’t the fact that they’re made from sustainably sourced ingredients. Nor is it that they’re vegan, cruelty-free, or safe for pets or kids. No, the greatest part about Drift car fresheners is that you can set their product in your car and within a few minutes—and for up to a month or more—you smell a pleasant, expertly crafted aroma. 

To be fair, I do appreciate that the Wood, Stone, and Metal car fresheners are made from sustainably sourced alder wood, organic stone, and alloy metal infused with essential and fragrance oil blends. They’re also free from phthalates, parabens, mineral oils, DEA, formaldehyde, petroleum, propylene, dichlorobenzene, and other harsh chemicals. Plus, they come in several mainstay scents, including the following: 

• Pine

• Teak

• Amber

• Cabana

• Grove

• Open Air

If you’re looking at this list of scents and aren’t sure which to choose, take their Scent Quiz. You’ll get expert recommendations on scents that fit your preferences based on how you answer the questions. I still prefer the Scent of the Month Club because I get a new scent delivered to my door every month—I don’t have to stress over which of my favorite ones I want to order next. 

Tips on Keeping the “Old Fries” Smell Away

Once you get rid of that “old fries” smell, you owe it to yourself to keep it away for good. The first step is being more mindful about the food you eat in your car, especially if you eat and drive. Better yet, avoid eating in your vehicle at all to keep food odors out completely. 

The unfortunate part about not eating in your car is that drinks can also leave a bad smell if you spill them. Sweet beverages like soda and coffee can smell even worse than old fries and be harder to remove. Maintaining a no-food-or-drink policy can be hard, but I found the odor of old fries harder to endure. 

The Best Scented Car Gadgets Designed With Your Nose in Mind

If you’re ready to get rid of whatever smell’s haunting your car’s interior, a Drift car freshener is one of the best car gadgets you can buy. Whether you get the visor-mounted Wood or Stone car freshener or the Metal car freshener that clips to your car’s air vents, you can’t go wrong with Drift. One last tip for you: I subscribe to their email newsletter to receive exclusive notifications about new products and limited-edition releases so I can get my hands on the latest in premium car fresheners.