One of my pleasures whenever I bought or leased a new car was that new-car-smell. I always wondered if the car dealer simply sprayed a chemical into every new car to duplicate that odor since no buyer really knows how long ago the car left the factory.
Therefore my question is: In general, is that new-car-smell the real thing? or is it sprayed in the car shortly before it is leased or sold to a new owner?
When I worked at the local Oldsmobile GMC dealership here a few years ago, when we prepped cars, there was that smell. We never sprayed anything in the cars/trucks.
Sometimes if it was really slow at work, we’d go and pick up the new cars at the docks–still the same smell.
Although–Ozium makes a spray called “That New Car Smell” (or at least they used to, I don’t know if they still manufacture it).
Our car retained it’s new-car-smell for over 2 years, there’s still a hint of it now. I don’t think there’s any need for a spray to replicate it at the dealers as the smell is strong enough as it is.
“New Car Smell” is the odor of the volatile organic compounds used to soften the plastic used in vinyl upholstery and other plastic parts. These are called “plasticizers,” and IME, they fog up the windows. I expect they also cause brain damage.
They must use that on other products as well.
We just bought a new microwave oven last night, and when I opened the carton the inside smelled just like the inside if a brand new car. (I would have taken it for a spin around the block, but my wife wanted to make popcorn.:D)
I’ve never owned a new car, by choice.
The local car wash does have that scent available though, along with potpourri, and pina colada.
Blechhh.
Yeah, I’ve bought a bottle of that once. It’s not the same thoguh as the smell from a factory fresh car.
pkbites…good one 
So, did the popcorn have that new-car taste?
I knew a car salesman in the late 60’s who told me that the dealer would spray a little embalming fluid inside cars which were just a couple years old to restore that “new car” smell.
I cannot prove nor can I debunk the man’s statement. I have no idea what embalming fluid smells like.
Peace,
mangeorge
Embalming fluid is primarily formaldehyde…which has a powerful odor not pleasant as the new-car-smell.
Thanks Northern Piper for : The Master Speaks link where my exact question was asked and answered 5 years ago. Its kind of weird when one sees the same combo question asked years ago…I ask myself Why did it take me 5 years to ask the same question?
Aha! The nose knows.
I once worked at a car dealership that rented cars to customers with cars in the service bay. We used embalming crystals in ashtrays and in containers under the seats to clean up any scents the previous renter left in our cars.
Crystals. Maybe that was it. The guy had no reason to lie to me. I once sent him a buyer for a brand new Chevy pickup. Salesmen appreciate stuff like that. He gave me a 2lb box of See’s, and always paid when we went to lunch. 