Talking some scents into me

 my quest for the best car air freshener

I knew this day would come. Although I never consciously would admit it: My 1998 Jeep Cherokee has lost its’ new car smell. Now why I love that fresh plastic Barbie smell I haven’t a clue, but after a trip with some Buffalo chicken wings on the back seat, I was left with the fowl odor in the truck. Time to get a car air freshener.

First of all I bought a yellow happy face ball. Don’t ask me if they bred but soon they  were all over the truck. Smiling with their coconut “tanning oil” smell, they were chosen for their color co-ordination with my SUV -- don’t fault me for that. I question their purpose as a freshener since the scent didn’t last long, just like my daydreams of a sandy beach. Next I tried a fruity-smelling Tweety bird. The scent lingered… in fact it permeated into all items stored in the truck. The only complaint – it was too darn cute……just didn’t fit my image of a more “mature” racerchick – I’m not 18 anymore.

Anyone that commutes to the office knows the definition of road rage. I always find fodder for racerchicks rants on my daily drive. This is why I was eager to try the “aroma therapy” scented freshener. Branded as a “stress reliever” I also hung one in my office, much to the curiosity of my co-workers. Did this flowery scent work? Well I didn’t kill anyone nor did I run anyone off the road. But even the mornings I want to – I never do.

Mr. Beefcake as I called him; my Chippendales posed hunk air freshener. I don’t know what a hot “Baywatch” lifeguard is suppose to smell like but I would sure like to find out! I took Mr. Hottie out of the package and could not determine his scent. Does the manufacturing think I’ll ignore the scent or lack of and just like the eye candy? Hey! Don’t touch that freshener – he…um…it stays!

Doing my research I came across a company that does personalized fresheners with company logos. It shocked me to see the Camel cigarette logo on one and it made me think of which scent they used: camels or cigarettes – neither on my favorite list. The company also provided wedding favor air fresheners. The thought of having a picture of the happy couple dangling from my mirror was haunting enough but what scent would they use? And how do prisons smell? – no thanks, I’ll pass.

While driving in this morning I saw an abundance of tree shaped fresheners dangling in an assortment of cars – why not find my own little tree. Little did I know Little Trees Co have over 40 different scents to choose from. Being the leader in air fresheners since 1952 I spoke with the company asking them which scents were their best sellers. The top ten were as follows:
Royal Pine
Bouquet
Spice
Vanilla
New Car Scent
Strawberry
Green Apple
Sunny Citrus
Rose musk
Jasmine
Flower Fresh

Now Cajo described Royal Pine as "grade school corridor" and Bouquet, smelling like fresh flowers would remind me it’s been ages since anyone sent me any, Spice and Vanilla would remind me of baking and I am on this diet so NEW CAR SCENT it was. The person I spoke to at Little Trees could not tell what new car this scent was from. I would obviously prefer it to be the New car scent of a Ferrari Barchetta and not Kia. Anyone knows there is a difference! Strawberry was too fruity and Green Apple – reminded me of the ex-boyfriend’s truck.  www.little-trees.com

I sat defeated in my Cherokee somehow the right scent would be out there. It was a cross between the smell of Spring and the scent of fine leather -what else could inspire thoughts of my summer car during the doldrums of winter. Oh well - I could always fly south for the winter and bring the car!