Creating a 'new car' smell

[MSG2004]

Hello
My 2016 GLE bought new in 2016, just me driving and more often than not just me in the car - we don't smoke, very clean, daily shower/bath, clean clothes (loll) etc and always try to ensure our shoes avoid dog poo etc and never had smell passengers. Though my car smells nice via those Christmas tree/Vanilla scents that I initially only 1/3 open then a month later strip the whole thing open makes the car smell nicer it does not smell like a new car. About twice a month we did what we called "joint visits" to clients and the passengers always commented on how clean the car was etc.

I've looked on Youtube - Chemeical Guys sprak had a big up but reading the reviews I'm not so sure. I've read up on a Halfords spray, people claim it does not smell like a "new car" but more like "scent" - both of these products soon lose their smell.

So, my car is and never has been smelly but I do miss the new car smell,

Any tried and tested recommendations, please?

 

[GeeJayW]

I use Autoglym Autofresh once or twice a month and find it quite fresh and pleasant.

It doesn’t replicate that ‘new car’ smell but nothing can.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

That new car smell is off gassing VOCs from the various plastics, adhesives and paints. If you want to szhuzh it up a bit then park it in the sunshine, or turn the heating up on the garage

 

[badgx]

Meguires Mirror Bright AF3 Black Cherry is nice, only available from Amazon, ebay or directly from Meguires

 

[DITTRICH]

The new car smell on my brother's CX90 almost made me sick. New car smell is to be avoided IMHO.

 

[markjay]

Haven't tried it myself, but this one gets good reviews:.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

That new car smell is off gassing VOCs from the various plastics, adhesives and paints. If you want to szhuzh it up a bit then park it in the sunshine, or turn the heating up on the garage

“Zhuzh“

zhuzh

1. to make something more interesting or attractive by changing it slightly or…

dictionary.cambridge.org

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

That new car smell is off gassing VOCs from the various plastics, adhesives and paints. If you want to szhuzh it up a bit then park it in the sunshine, or turn the heating up on the garage

Amen, I’ve especially noticed this in the States when temperatures head towards “100F” (other heat measurement systems are available).

Worth saying that each brand and era has its own “nose.”

You can smell it at car shows, museums and auctions.

An old Jaaag, Beemer, Porker or Merc always has its own distinctive Manufacturer’s smell, which a fragrance can “hide” but which will never be the same.

 

[SpikyMikey]

The new car smell on my brother's CX90 almost made me sick. New car smell is to be avoided IMHO.

It's those VOC' s that BobbyDazzler mentions that also cause that annoying film on the inside of your windscreen.

 

[baxlin]

It's those VOC' s that BobbyDazzler mentions that also cause that annoying film on the inside of your windscreen.

Any ideas on how to stop that happening?

 

[SpikyMikey]

Any ideas on how to stop that happening?

Just keep cleaning it

 

[Slartibartfast]

I prefer the smell of leather over 'new car' smell. Ways of achieving this include placing some Dr Leather wipes under the seats

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Any ideas on how to stop that happening?

All you can do is encourage the offgassing process to accelerate it and therefore in the long term reduce the potential for the film in future. Beyond keeping the windows and sunroof open and parking it somewhere very warm then I’m not sure what more you can do. If your car is already a few years old then I’m not sure whether accelerating the off gassing would make a difference to the film.

 

[MSG2004]

I prefer the smell of leather over 'new car' smell. Ways of achieving this include placing some Dr Leather wipes under the seats

I was actually going to inc that in my OP but felt it would be off track. One of our children bought a brand new Santefe I think its called but 100% certain its a Kia. (it has all the toys you can think of inc seat cooling and to me, it is as well built as the MB but the dash layout is not as crsip)
It has real leather seats as opposed to my artificial ones. Even though the car is now three years old. Whenever I sit in it, the smell of leather is still there to me but not to him. He just keeps the car clean like me and has not yet polished/waxed the seats but the smell does remind me a bit about when I got the car new and our new leather sofas
Therefore I may try something that smells like a new leather sofa.
Thanks to all who have tried to help/contribute.

 

[Alex225]

The new car scent is specific to each brand and usually consists of the materials smell from assembling the car, glues, fabrics plastics etc. So you'll never get that exact smell and it is hard to describe but we all know it.

The smell will fade of time, regardless of what you do. Autofresh as someone mentioned is a nice fragrance (like baby talc) and you can spray on the fabrics as and when. Chemical Guys Fresh Fade is a really nice scent that you spray on the car too. Alternatively, buy the California Scents tinned aifreshners and the right ones will last months - Coronado Cherry being one. They usually come with a plastic lid you can open incrementally so it's not overwhelming.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

It has real leather seats as opposed to my artificial ones. Even though the car is now three years old.

Are you sure that your car does not have real leather? The current GLE comes with what Mercedes describe as leather on the online configurator.

Even real leather interiors will have coatings which means that you don’t actually touch the leather, but something “on” the leather, so it may not feel or smell like “real” leather.

 

[MSG2004]

Are you sure that your car does not have real leather? The current GLE comes with what Mercedes describe as leather on the online configurator.

Even real leather interiors will have coatings which means that you don’t actually touch the leather, but something “on” the leather, so it may not feel or smell like “real” leather.

Mine is a 2016 bought brand new and I recall reading specs saying it was "artico" leather and I thought that meant articial - its hard compared to the Kia - not sure if the dashboard is real leather but feels like it. I also recall seats smelling like leather in the first summer I bought the car, well smell like leather even more so is what I should have said. But the smell may have been like others have posted, ie the plastics etc.


I often wonder is a car like the Santefe had a MB badge on it they could easily put 15k on the car when new.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Mine is a 2016 bought brand new and I recall reading specs saying it was "artico" leather and I thought that meant articial - its hard compared to the Kia - not sure if the dashboard is real leather but feels like it. I also recall seats smelling like leather in the first summer I bought the car, well smell like leather even more so is what I should have said. But the smell may have been like others have posted, ie the plastics etc.


I often wonder is a car like the Santefe had a MB badge on it they could easily put 15k on the car when new.

Artico =  Artificial  Cow

 

[ALFAitalia]

Mine is a 2016 bought brand new and I recall reading specs saying it was "artico" leather and I thought that meant articial - its hard compared to the Kia - not sure if the dashboard is real leather but feels like it. I also recall seats smelling like leather in the first summer I bought the car, well smell like leather even more so is what I should have said. But the smell may have been like others have posted, ie the plastics etc.


I often wonder is a car like the Santefe had a MB badge on it they could easily put 15k on the car when new.

Apparently only the GLE 63 S has "real" leather which is a Nappa leather interior in black, espresso brown or porcelain.

 

[MSG2004]

Apparently only the GLE 63 S has "real" leather which is a Nappa leather interior in black, espresso brown or porcelain.

Thanks but I could not justify the cost for the petrol gle as it was thousands more than what we paid for our gLE/new in cash.