Its been a good while since I started a thread in C5 Gen. I like to keep all my eggs in one basket. AS many old timers here may know, I'm a believer in Zaino Products. I only use 4 of his products. I have a very long history with Sal.. its been about 21 years. I use showcar polish, gloss enhancer, leather in a bottle, and tire shine. When Sal introduced his products, nothing came close, In my opinion. being a self absorbed detailer for 50 years. My car's finish and overall appearance is due in part to the products I use and the sickness of being OCD that I was born with. The reason for this thread is to share some insight.
Zaino s Leather in a bottle.. a great product, but I was looking for a back up, a chance to try another product.. I just bought my wife a new car and was drawn to the smell of the Newness, and leather. While the Zaino Leather in a bottle does the job, I was looking for a spray that mimics the new car smell and could be sprayed on the carpet and mats etc. I was pleasantly surprised that Chemical guys has a product called Leather scent, in a spray bottle.. I bought it. it last about a week and mimics the smell of my wifes car.. @ 10 dollars a bottle 16 oz, and 24 dollars a gallon, it a good choice... between my New Ridies seat skins and this spray, my car smells great. in fact a neighbor commented on the smell and said he loves the smell of New leather and my new Ridies seats.

My question is, what are others using to keep their 20 year old car smelling fresh?
Bill aka ET
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Just to add some content. I looked at the reviews, as I always do. Some people loved the smell and said it was the closest thing they had found to a new car smell with that hint of leather. Others said it smelled horrible. There were lots of reviews and they were all over the place. For ten dollars I wanted to try it. To me the smell was good, similar to my wifes new car. I could not get that feeling or smell that it was horrible. IM guessing this bottle ( 16 oz. ) should last 6 months. Ill test it through the summer and see if its still as good with the elevated cabin temps.

 

For Christmas a good friend got me a Chemical Guys assortment, which I've tried in my truck.

This is the odor eliminator in the kit that definitely neutralized any smell in my truck and gave it a faint pleasant smell.

The previous owner of my C5 used peppermint oil during storage season, so the lingering scent of peppermint has stayed with it for the most part. I may try the Chemical Guys spray I have when the seasons turn to see what happens. The other odor eliminator spray that came in the assortment was this which I don't think I'm that interested in using.

 

Yes the smell of donuts might work in a police car, but not so much in mine .. that and old *** and hardened crusty socks smell are in the same category. IN my opinion.
Bill aka ET

 

I see they have two products. I bought the leather scent, I may buy the other just for the research.

 

One suggestion Bill is to stay away from beers and burritos.

My car still smells fresh after 20 years but I don't smoke, have no pets and never ate in it and never spilled anything in it.

 

I'm with Mike... I find that my car has that new car smell. Pretty sure no smokers, pets, etc.

 

Bill, your review of the leather scent product was good enough for me, I just ordered a bottle. I like to buy new cars just for the leather and new car smell...

 

I offered my opinion, and I am flattered that you chose to try it. However, you may not like it. Like I said in the reviews, they were all over the place... lots of people said it was horrible.. I think smell can be very subjective. The smell is as good as Zaino leather in a bottle and last a bit longer. I was hoping for something close that in a spray. the Zaino is a cream.
I am about to order a gallon of it. I may try a sample of the New car smell, which lots of people have reviewed. Some say it smells like burnt plastic and others say its the closest thing they've ever smelled to a new car.

 

I bought my Corvette new, no food and no drink and no pets, also no sex in this particular Corvette. A 20 year old car will still age over time.. especially after having a Beer and burrito lunch at a local eatery on occassion. I know age is a factor because when I was younger I never smelled This bad
Bill aka ET

 

"also no sex in this particular Corvette" your age is showing....

 

Oh Ive tried, but no one want to.
One thing I will say... and Ive said this before.. every time I start my C5, I do get a tingle in my pants.. So when my wife feels frisky, she says, why dont you go out and start your car.
Bill aka ET

 

So my future car smells like new leather
I'm seriously considering doing Ridies leather in my 02 as the driver's seat a very tiny rip in the bottom part. It's barely noticeable but it bugs me. I would have no problem getting the seats out (I've done it a couple of times already) but I have reservations on replacing the leather by myself. I'm in the middle of nowhere so it's not like I have a local upholstery shop nearby. Just a quick check on the internet shows one about 50 miles away. Not that there is a close autobody shop nearby but would they install the new leather?

 

I just did my ridies seat covers, they do smell great! Nothing like the smell of leather

 

What's the closest airport?

 

From me, about 40 miles to the Cedar Rapids airport or 40 miles to the Dubuque airport.

 

Do commercial jet plane fly in there? or just crop dusters?

 

Yes, either place does but the Cedar Rapids airport is MUCH larger than the Dubuque airport.

 

its a 4 hour and ten minute flight. My airline goes there American.
Is there anything around there to see that would be exciting?

 

Right now all you will see is snow, Seriously, there isn't much to do around here. The city is still recovering from the flood from many years ago.