To use a kirri car diffuser, fill it with a 100ml traditional refill, sit it in a cup holder or door compartment, and open the lid more or less to control how strong the scent is. There's no power, no plug and no charging: the scent releases through natural evaporation.
That's the short answer. Below is the full guide, based on the questions customers send us most after their car diffuser arrives.
What comes in the box
The kirri car diffuser (obsidian edition) comes as a single, a duo or a trio.
- Single: one car diffuser and one traditional refill (100ml) in the scent you choose
- Duo: two car diffusers, each with its own traditional refill (100ml)
- Trio: three car diffusers, each with its own traditional refill (100ml)
The duo and trio suit households with more than one car, or anyone who wants a different scent in each.
Setting it up
- Pick a spot: a cup holder or door compartment. Choose one where it sits firmly and won't slide on corners
- Add the refill: pour in the traditional refill. Do this outside the car or over a cloth, so any drips don't land on the console
- Keep it upright: it's designed to stand, so don't lay it on its side or wedge it at an angle
- Set the lid: start with it only slightly open and adjust from there
If you do spill a little, wipe it up straight away with a dry cloth.
Adjusting the strength through the year
The lid is your strength control. Open it further for more scent, and close it down for less.
- Cooler days: open the lid further. Evaporation slows in the cold, so you need more opening for the same scent
- Hot days: close it down a little. A car parked in an Australian summer heats up fast, and the scent comes through more strongly
- Long drives: if passengers find it strong, ease the lid back rather than taking the diffuser out
Warm weather also uses the oil faster, so expect to top up more often in summer than in winter.
Which refill to use
The car diffuser takes kirri traditional refills (100ml). It's the same refill made for the wood diffuser and the 100ml reed diffuser, so one bottle can cover a room at home and your car.
Traditional refills are high in perfumer's alcohol. That's what lets them diffuse without a motor, and it's also why they must never go into an electric diffuser. Keep them out of the Micro, Element, Beacon and Pillar, because the alcohol damages them. Our oil compatibility guide covers which bottle fits which diffuser.
Choosing a scent for the car
All ten iconic scents are available as car diffuser refills. A car is a small, closed space, so strength matters more than it does in a living room.
- Lightest: bondi (strength 1/5), with mandarin, watery ozone, green cardamom, black pepper and musk
- Soft: rose gold and coral (both 2/5)
- Medium: santal woods and dream (both 3/5)
- Strongest: fig tree (5/5). Lovely in a bigger car, with the lid only just open
Country linen, botanical gardens, zen garden and kiwi coconut vanilla all sit at 4/5. Not sure which you'll like? The discovery kit has a 2ml sample of each iconic scent, and our guide to choosing a scent with samples explains how to test them.
Refilling and looking after it
- When to top up: when you notice the scent fading, even with the lid well open
- Swapping scents: let it run low before you change, so the two don't mix
- Storing spares: keep spare refills in a cool cupboard at home, not in a hot car
- Cleaning up: wipe the outside with a dry cloth if any oil has run down the side
How long a refill lasts depends on how far the lid is open and how hot the car gets, so it changes from season to season.
Start with a clean car
A car diffuser works best in a car that's already clean. Fragrance over old smells just gives you two smells. Our post on how to make your car smell good covers the clean-out first, then what to look for in a car diffuser.
FAQ
Does the kirri car diffuser need batteries or a USB plug?
No. It needs no power at all. The scent releases through natural evaporation, and you control it with the lid.
Can I use a 500ml refill in the car diffuser?
The car diffuser is made for the 100ml traditional refill. The 500ml refill is made for the 200ml reed diffuser, so for the car, stick with the 100ml bottle.
Can I put a kirri diffuser oil (15ml, 30ml or 100ml Aura) in the car diffuser?
No. Micro, Macro and Aura Oils are made for our electric diffusers. The car diffuser uses the 100ml traditional refill only.