To make your car smell good, clean it first so you're not covering up old smells, then add a car diffuser with a scent you like. A refillable diffuser that sits in a cup holder gives a steady scent for weeks without power or plug-ins.
Australian cars have it tough: beach sand, footy boots, wet dogs, takeaway and cabins that bake in the sun. Here's how to get yours smelling good and keep it that way.
Step 1: clean out the source
Fragrance on top of a smell just gives you two smells. Spend 30 minutes on these first.
- Empty everything: door pockets, under seats, the boot and the glovebox. Old food and drink bottles are the usual culprits
- Vacuum properly: lift the floor mats, vacuum under them and between the seats
- Wash the mats: rubber mats can be hosed and dried in the sun; carpet mats need a scrub and a full dry
- Wipe hard surfaces: dash, console, door trims and the steering wheel
If the car still smells musty when the air conditioning runs, ask your mechanic to check the cabin air filter at the next service.
Step 2: let it air out
Leave the doors or windows open for an hour on a dry day. Damp is the enemy in a car, so make sure the mats and carpet are completely dry before you close it up.
Step 3: add a car diffuser
Once it's clean, add a scent that lasts. The kirri car diffuser (obsidian edition) is made for this.
- No power: the scent releases through natural evaporation, so there's nothing to plug in or charge
- Where it sits: in a cup holder or door compartment
- The refill: a 100ml traditional refill, the same one used in our wood diffuser
- Adjusting it: open the lid further on cooler days for more scent
On a hot day the scent naturally comes through more strongly, so you may want the lid less open in summer. Keep spare refills in a cool cupboard at home rather than in a hot car, and keep the diffuser upright.
How to choose a car scent
A car is a small, closed space, so a scent that's lovely in a living room can be too much in a cabin. Our strength ratings help.
- Light and fresh: bondi (strength 1/5), with mandarin, watery ozone and black pepper. A good first choice for a small car
- Soft and clean: coral (2/5), with bergamot, pink pepper, eucalyptus and white musk
- Warm and woody: santal woods (3/5), with sandalwood, cedar and cardamom
- Bold: fig tree (5/5) is our strongest. Better in a larger car or SUV, with the lid only slightly open
If you share the car, pick something everyone's happy with. A lighter scent is easier on passengers, especially on long drives. The discovery kit lets you try each iconic scent before you choose.
The best car diffuser in Australia: what to look for
We're biased, of course. But whichever car diffuser you choose, these are the things worth checking.
- Refillable: you top it up when it runs low, rather than throwing it out and buying another
- Stable fit: it should sit firmly in a cup holder or door pocket, so it doesn't tip on corners
- Adjustable: a way to control the strength, since Australian summers make scent stronger
- The same scent as home: if you already love a scent in your reed diffuser or wood diffuser, using it in the car too is a nice touch
The kirri car diffuser ticks those boxes, and because it uses the same 100ml traditional refill as our wood diffuser, one scent can cover your car and a room at home. For set-up, refills and adjusting the lid through the year, see our car diffuser guide.
Keeping it smelling good
- Weekly: take out rubbish and anything that's been left in the car
- Monthly: a quick vacuum and wipe down
- When the scent fades: top up with the 100ml refill
FAQ
Can I use room spray in my car?
A light spray into the air of the cabin, with the doors open, is fine for a quick refresh. Avoid spraying directly onto the dash, seats or screens.
Can I put reed diffuser oil in the car diffuser?
Yes. The kirri car diffuser is made for the 100ml traditional refill, which is the same type of oil used in our reed and wood diffusers.
Is it OK to leave the car diffuser in a hot car?
It's made to sit in the car. On very hot days the scent will be stronger and the oil will be used faster, so you may want the lid less open in summer.