What makes that new car smell?

What makes that new car smell?
The "New Car" smell is related to what is known as an "out gassing" of many of the materials used to make the car.

For example, the vinyl in the dash board gives off gasses during it's first few months after manufacture. The same can be said of the carpet, the glues used to install it, and the seats.


Cloth or vinyl seats give off their own odors, while leather gives off odors, due to the treatments performed to make it last longer.




There actually is an air freshener that car manufacturers use to cover up the out gassing of the interior materials. That is what you actually smell.