Is there a smell engineered into cars ?

[fastfredracing]

Deep thoughts by Jack Handy today.
Every small chevrolet I get into has this irish spring soap smell. I used to think it was from the customers, but no. Every single one of them has the same smell . I can even pick it up in smokers cars.
Oddly enough, all the pickups from that same era, have a certain smell . It is different, but I recognize it as soon as I step into one. I have noticed this with a lot of different manufactures . I have always wondered if it is just the plastic, and fabrics leeching out , but the Chevrolet smell, almost smells good, like it was meant to be that way .
Obviously, cars with leather have that sweet leather smell, and all old BMW's smell like dirty gym socks .

[widebody911]

Yes - it's derived from asparagus

[GH85Carrera]

I love the smell of my 85 911. Especially that first whiff when I sit in it after it has sat for several days in the garage. My old 1986 Chevy El Camino mostly smells like me after 28 years. There is not a bit of that car that does not have my DNA on it.

I have a spray bottle of "new car smell" I use on the Elky interior a few times per year. The 911 just has its own leather and oil smell that is wonderful.

[Eric Hahl]

Originally Posted by widebody911

Yes - it's derived from asparagus

Hahaha!!!

[911boost]

If the car is built on a Friday in Detroit it has a smell for sure.

[asphaltgambler]

Interesting question. Going out on a limb with my answer = no. I strongly suspect it's all the new materials and the odor they give off in a closed environment. I do agree with your senses but I'm not sure I could differentiate between say GM or a Ford product.

Being familiar with auto manufacturing, I could not imagine they would spend 1/2 cent additional per car to add a fragrance. I remember some time ago, JC Whitney sold "That New Car Smell" in a bottle.

Or possibly those of us that have spent a good part of our life in the auto service industry knows that most used cars smell like like farts, mountain dew, old McDonald's food scraps with a touch of cigarette smoke

[RANDY P]

I impart my own smell

rjp

[RKDinOKC]

Porsche leather interiors do have a distinct auroma.

[s_morrison57]

Leather doesn't smell, tanned leather has no odor, what your smelling is the chemicals used in the tanning process, its strong in new cars but always fades with time.

Finn

[RWebb]

wouldn't surprise me


but, the "new car smell" and the gunk on the inside of the glass that won't come off are both due to outgassing from the plasticizers used - and modern cars are full of plastic

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I love the smell of my 85 911. Especially that first whiff when I sit in it after it has sat for several days in the garage. My old 1986 Chevy El Camino mostly smells like me after 28 years. There is not a bit of that car that does not have my DNA on it.

My truck smells of dust, 32 years worth of dust- interior is slowly rotting away.

rjp

[masraum]

I'm sure that some amount of time and energy has been spent on the smell of a new car for just about every manufacturer.

If it was outgassing, then they'd smell like crap. I've bought enough cheap, plastic/vinyl/rubber/sythetic crap over the years to know that it smell horrible.

I suspect that all manufacturers spend some amount of money on smell, just like they all spend money on sound, from the sound of the HVAC fan, to the sound of the glove-box being closed, every aspect of a car is worked to try to separate people from their money, and a car that smelled like new rubber, vinyl and plastic wouldn't sell for sheisse.

[charlesbahn]

Almost certainly yes.

Want your old car to smell like new? There is a company that actually produces that odor- Ultrashield "new car scent."

Charles

[GH85Carrera]

I love the smell of brand new electronic stuff too.

As much as most people discuss new car smell I suspect it is discussed when the part suppliers are contracted. My wife's 2017 Macan still has the new car smell but it just turned 14,000 miles and spends most of its life in the garage.

[MBAtarga]

I recall reading (about 10 years ago) a copy of Roundel (BMW Club publication) about the details of BMW designs. The article discussed the tactile designs of the different materials - hard, soft, fuzzy, etc - as well as the various smells. There are definitely things taken into account.