A common use for car air fresheners is to cover up bad smells in your car, from pet odors and cigarette scents to dirty clothes and food spills. We took note of how well each of the best car air fresheners was able to mask the smell of stinky clothes in the trunk of our test vehicle. The best car air fresheners are a good way to start keeping your vehicle smelling fresh but car accessories are another route. You can also vacuum your car to remove debris, clean the carpets to eliminate smelly stains, and take out all trash when you leave the car. How often should I change my car air freshener? One Ozium canister should last for at least a month, but it could last up to four months if used relatively sparingly. Having a lit candle in the cupholder is not recommended. However, Yankee Candle still managed to find a way to imbue your car's cabin with folksy fragrances. Yankee Smart Scents Vent Clips grip the directional air vanes on your car's dashboard vents so the scent can blast out with heated or cooled air.

Of the best car air fresheners, we had the top experience overall with this one. Our testers enjoyed the scent but were most impressed by the style of the device as well as its longevity. The smell also permeated the whole car interior.

Better Safe Than Sorry

If you need a car freshener that you use occasionally, this DIY linen spray will come in handy. This deodorizing spray contains three natural ingredients and is much more subtle than its store-bought counterparts. We rated each of the best car air fresheners using three main criteria: longevity, odor-masking abilities, and overall value. Although designed for use in shoes, these charcoal air fresheners can be used anywhere in a car. When using these for shoes, one reviewer found that “after two days of using these bags, they now have zero smell.” The bags will continue eliminating odors for up to two years, as long as they are put in direct sunlight for 6–8 hours before use, and 3–5 hours once a month. Specifications

Scent is arguably the most important factor when choosing a car air freshener because it will determine how your car smells for the foreseeable future. For those focused on aromatherapy and in search of essential oils, there’s even more to consider before choosing a scent. AestheticsA can may take up one of your cup holders – a big sacrifice if you’ve got a sedan with only two. A plug-in may not be that large, but it takes up a cigarette lighter that could be used to charge electronics. If you want a car air freshener that’s relatively unobtrusive, a rearview mirror or car vent clip is your best bet. Variety Also Available at: Walmart 9. Best Odor Eliminator—Meguiar's Whole Car Air Re-Fresher Odor Eliminator Mist Regulations regarding hanging objects in vehicles vary across different states in the United States. For instance, states such as Minnesota, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Texas have laws that permit law enforcement officers to pull over drivers and issue fines for having items hanging from their rear-view mirror. Other states have more general laws prohibiting anything that obstructs the driver's view, allowing officers to issue fines for specific violations. Although slightly bigger than other air fresheners in this test, the Lynx did not interfere with the use of the vent itself. Place the herbs in the felt pouch and sew the hole shut. Using the hole punch, create a hole at the top of the bag. Thread the string or yarn through the hole and hang the air freshener in your car. Use Fabric Softener Sheets

The Air Spencer has two components: a plastic case and a changeable gel insert that releases scent. There are several different scents available, but we chose squash, which had a pleasant smell that was actually reminiscent of bubble gum. The scent from the Air Spencer can be quite strong when the device is opened fully. We left it only half open as we thought it was slightly too powerful. This scent also covered odor from gym clothes well, and it was the only smell we could detect in our test vehicle.This type of air freshener comes in a plastic or metal canister with a gel-like substance in it. The lid of the canister has holes, and you can usually twist the lid to decide how many holes you want open. The more holes that are open, the more scent the gel will release. Can-shaped car air fresheners are generally placed into a cup holder. Vent Clip Thread the needle with the quilting thread, and tie a knot at the end. Thread the felt balls onto the string, one at a time. When you are happy with the size of your circle, attach the two end balls and tie off the thread. You don’t need a lot of hard to find ingredients or complicated directions to make an air freshener for your car. With the help of a Mason jar and some store-bought scented wax cubes, you can make an effective air freshener that fits nicely in the cup holder. This bag does not work as immediately as a spray would since the subtle scent takes time to circulate and to filter out odors. However, leaving the Moso Natural air purifying bags in your vehicle should generally keep away unwanted smells.