Life consists of various seasons, many characterized by ups and downs, life and death, birth and decay. We often associate these phases of nature with cycles, moving from the dewy freshness of spring and sweltering days of summer to the cool breezes of autumn and icy tingles of winter. While not all smells are necessarily pleasant, they all tell the story of passing time.
As we move in and out of our cars throughout our daily lives, we will invariably replace that new car smell with our own. Even used cars take on our scent the longer we own them, but too much of the same thing can get boring. If you’re ready to spice things up a bit and create your own seasonal car scents, Drift’s signature lineup has everything you need to switch it up and set the tone.
What Makes a Car Scent Seasonal?
Think back on the past years of your life, and you might recall a few signature smells associated with people, events, places, or times within your own seasons. The smell of your elementary school lunchroom might remind your taste buds of microwaved grilled cheese sandwiches; the pungency of pool chlorine can evoke memories of a childhood crush; the rubbery scent of brand-new tires can transport you back to your first job and paycheck. Although we may not think of these instances as seasons, we can group those scents together based on our life stages.
Seasonal car scents work similarly to seasonal scents as we conceptualize them in our individual lives. For example, you might associate tree sap with the summer season because the tree you park under only drips during the summer months. Or you might catch a whiff of poinsettias that you associate with Christmas time because that’s your plant of choice for holiday decorating. Whatever scents linger in your car throughout the year, each of them represents the season differently.
Before you craft your own seasonal car scent using the steps below, take some time to brainstorm scents you enjoy and what happy memories they evoke. Write down your favorite scents and why you like them to get the ball rolling.
How to Create Your Own Seasonal Car Scents
The best part about seasonal car scents is that you can create your own season — and corresponding scent — any time you want! All you need is a little inspiration, a sense of adventure, and the right tools. Use the guide below to create seasonal car scents that inspire you.
1. Gather Your Materials
The best way to combine your favorite scents is by using essential and fragrance oils. These concentrated oils are best transferred via a carrier oil, as direct contact can cause skin irritation. Common carrier oils include almond oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil.
You can disperse your seasonal car scent via an absorbent material or a spray bottle. Absorbent materials like cotton balls can be a great way to diffuse your scent, especially if you contain them in something that allows airflow. While water will suffice to suspend your favorite essential oils in a spray bottle, you can also use alcohol or vodka.
2. Experiment With Seasonal Car Scent Blends
Once you’ve gathered your materials, it’s time to start experimenting. Figure out which top, middle, and bottom notes you want to incorporate to achieve the ambiance you’re looking for. Start with a few drops of each oil on a cotton ball or in your spray bottle, and let your blend sit for a few days to really infuse into one another.
3. Test Seasonal Car Scents
Spritz your car with your seasonal car scents blend or place the container housing the scent-infused cotton ball inside the cabin somewhere, like under the seat. Testing your seasonal car scent may take roping a few friends or family members into a car ride. Gauge how long it takes your passengers to notice the smell and how well they receive it.
4. Repeat and Retest
Achieving the perfect seasonal car scent may take a few tries, depending on the particular scent you’re going for. If you enjoyed mixing and matching scents, try again, this time changing an element or adding more or fewer drops of a particular oil. You can also try out different variants to spray or place in your car as the seasons change.
Keeping track of the seasonal scent blends you create and whether they meet your expectations or not takes quite a bit of time. If you’re looking for a convenient solution, check out Drift’s signature car fresheners. You can also take our Scent Quiz to find out which car scent best fits your style and preferences.
Scents Associated With Various Seasons
Creating your own seasonal scent can be challenging if you’re unsure where to begin. Use the commonly associated seasonal scents below to jumpstart your creativity:
- Pumpkin spice
- Spring flowers
- Cinnamon and clove
- Apple cider
- Coconut
- Lavender
- Various tree species
- Citrus
- Peppermint
- Vanilla
- Caramel or amber
- Rain
Which of the scents above can you pair together to create your own signature seasonal scent? Test out a few varieties and record your results to ensure you can repeat the winning formula.
Celebrate the Season of Your Favorite Car Scents
Drift’s luxurious car scents bring a sense of sophistication to any season. Our premium lineup starts with sustainably sourced materials to leverage the best benefits from organic stone, alder wood, and alloy metal. Each of our Stone, Metal, and Wood car fresheners is cruelty-free, pet-friendly, and vegan. We keep our stylish car fresheners safe from petroleum, formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, and other harsh chemicals, using only natural essential and fragrance oil blends.
Establish your own seasonal car scent with our five signature scents, including Pine, Teak, Amber, Cabana, and Grove. Pine evokes a poignant mix of moss, musk, cedarwood, and mountain pine to awaken your senses. Teak intrigues the senses with a blend of amber, cedar atlas, oakmoss, and teakwood. Amber soothes with vanilla, eucalyptus, and French lavender, while Cabana excites through bergamot, sea salt, coconut, and cedarwood. Rely on Grove to taste sour citrus mellowed through vanilla sugar, blond wood, and mountain greens.
Create Your Own Seasons With Drift Car Scents
When it comes to incorporating seasonal car scents into your routine, let Drift do the hard work for you. Join our Scent of the Month Club to experience a new, fresh scent each month of the year, or select your favorite from our lineup of signature premium scents. What new seasonal scent will you choose?
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