The best hacks help us solve a problem or accomplish a goal with ease, without breaking the bank — or our backs. The following car air freshener hacks can help you save money and keep your car smelling fresh. Plus, you can alternate between methods if you find that one doesn’t work. 

For the ultimate car air freshener hack, check out Drift premium car fresheners. Our signature scents infuse your vehicle with pleasant aromas that turn any commute into a vacation of smell. Sign up for our Scent of the Month club to experience a brand-new, exclusive scent every 30 days or pick from one of our many premium scents available every day of the year. 

10 Car Air Freshener Hacks From Drift

If you’re looking for the next-best way to turn your car’s interior into a scentful oasis, the following hacks don’t cost a lot of time or money. But as the saying goes, sometimes it’s better to work smarter than harder. Pick up a Wood, Stone, or Metal car freshener from Drift for a natural and environmentally friendly option that’s easy on the budget and your tiny nose hairs. 

1. DIY Clothespin Vent Clip 

Creating your own vent clip car air freshener can be a great way to involve your children in the process. Simply purchase an assortment of small cotton balls or pom-poms and hot glue them to the flat surface of a wooden clothespin. Once the glue is dry, place five to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil on the cotton balls or pom-poms, then clip the clothespin to your car vents. 

2. Scented Rice

Infusing rice with your favorite essential oils can be a great way to use up old rice or simply create a cost-effective scented solution to a musty-smelling car. Measure about half a cup of rice into a container of your choice — preferably one that seals so you don’t have small grains of rice scattered around your floorboards. Place several drops of essential oils onto the rice grains and shake them to distribute the scent. 

3. Homemade Air Freshener Spray 

When passive methods like scented rice don’t do the trick, creating your own air freshener spray can help. Mix rubbing alcohol or vodka, a few drops of your favorite essential oils, and a pinch of salt in a small spray bottle. Shake the ingredients to blend, then test out your creation before spritzing your car’s interior every couple of days. 

If you’re particularly crafty or have a nose for creating wonderful-smelling essential oil blends, you can easily test out your own recipes. Once you find a blend you like, consider writing down the exact formula. A batch of DIY air freshener sprays also make great gifts for birthdays or the holidays. 

4. DIY Fabric Freshening Spray 

Pairing a refreshing air freshener spray with a DIY fabric freshening spray means your passengers won’t wrinkle their noses every time they hop in for a ride. To create your own fabric freshening spray, pair baking soda, warm water, and fabric softener in a spray bottle. Shake to incorporate and test out on a sofa cushion to see if you’ve got the right blend for a DIY fabric freshening spray. 

5. Climate System Refresh

Unfortunately, spraying air fresheners into your car’s interior won’t take care of all the bad odors. However, spraying your favorite disinfectant spray into the air intake vents located within your car’s windshield cowl can help refresh the entire system. Just ensure that the climate control fan is on full blast when you start your vehicle to circulate the disinfectant spray throughout your vehicle. 

6. Dryer Sheet Vent Screens

When push comes to shove and you’re ready to kick out terrible odors from your vehicle, subtlety can be overrated. Opt for tucking dryer sheets into your car vents to filter the air through a mesh-like screen. It might look like your car has a few expertly tucked kleenexes throughout the interior, but you can easily remove the dryer sheets after a few days. 

7. Car Candle Wax

Lighting a candle in your car is one of the last things you want to do, but putting candle wax in a sealed jar complete with vent holes can give you a similar effect — without the threat of a car fire. You can pick up wax cubes of your favorite scents at most home goods stores, and a reused can makes for a recyclable container. Creating your own car candle wax is most beneficial during the summer, when the melted wax will fill your car’s interior with a pleasant aroma. 

8. Repurpose Old Clothing

Speaking of recycling, you can repurpose old clothing by spraying it with your personal perfume or cologne and stuffing it underneath a seat or placing it over the backrest. This hack doesn’t require you to purchase anything, making it one of the most affordable ways to make your car smell amazing with little effort involved. If you don’t want to use up your coveted perfume or cologne — which could be expensive — you can also pick out a favorite spray to use instead. 

9. Citrus Peels

Fruit is good for your health and the smell in your car, especially if you save the peel of your favorite citrus. Place dried orange or lemon peels in a mesh bag and hang them from your rearview mirror. While these natural car fresheners can tingle your senses, it’s best to replace them after a few days so they don’t turn moldy. 

10. Natural Odor Removers

If nothing else works, going with the old standby of natural odor removers can rid your car of its stink for good. Charcoal, oatmeal, and coffee beans soak up odors so you can easily remove bad smells by disposing of these natural ingredients after a few days. If the bad smell returns, simply create another container of these items to refresh your car’s interior. 

The Ultimate Hack: Drift Luxury Car Fresheners

Indulge your senses with an elegant Drift car air freshener designed to elevate your car’s interior with one of six sumptuous scents. Drift’s luxury car fresheners are vegan, pet and kid-friendly, cruelty-free, and made from sustainable materials. Not sure which scent best fits your taste? Take our Scent Quiz to find your next favorite car freshener aroma!