New car scent
Thread Starter
Speedy
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,112
Likes: 931
From: Tn
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
New car scent
Discussed ad nauseum but I need my fix
Chemical guys isn't close, store bought fresheners dont cut it. Emailed adams and they don't have a solution.
Best I can tell the smell is from the carpet.
Anyone know what chemical gives a vette that unique smell?
Chemical guys isn't close, store bought fresheners dont cut it. Emailed adams and they don't have a solution.
Best I can tell the smell is from the carpet.
Anyone know what chemical gives a vette that unique smell?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,918
Likes: 1,441
From: Any City USA
Formaldehyde ...LOL
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,865
From: Virginia
Editing my post as initially assumed you were complaining about the smell, wanting to eliminate it (as what is most often the case here), as opposed to duplicating it.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; Jul 23, 2024 at 05:47 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 6,140
Likes: 2,745
From: Northeast
The smell is created from volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing of plastics, paint and glue inside the car. It hard to duplicate, but found that Chemical Guys New Car Smell Air Freshener was the closest. Here’s a related article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/under...-car-smell.htm
Thread Starter
Speedy
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,112
Likes: 931
From: Tn
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Doesnt give cadaver lab vibes though
Read that and bought the product didnt think it matched
Excellent I'll try
The smell is created from volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing of plastics, paint and glue inside the car. It hard to duplicate, but found that Chemical Guys New Car Smell Air Freshener was the closest. Here’s a related article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/under...-car-smell.htm
Excellent I'll try
Last edited by SinisterC6; Jul 24, 2024 at 08:57 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,129
Likes: 737
From: East Coast, USA
My 2008 C6 Z06 still had a new car smell inside when I sold it in 2017. I always kept the windows up and since it was a fixed roof, the top never came off.
I'd really like to have a 2017 Dodge Viper with a new car smell though...
I'd really like to have a 2017 Dodge Viper with a new car smell though...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,836
Likes: 2,151
From: Kelso, Wa
I've been using Chemical Guys "NEW CAR SCENT" for a while, diluted 16/1. It's not perfect, but when I'm at car shows an invite people to sit in the car, they comment "It still smells new!". I admit to them about spraying it in. ...
Undiluted it is tooo strong. I spray it onto the carpeting, at close range, never on the leather or plastic. ..
Again, not perfect, but closest I've found.
Undiluted it is tooo strong. I spray it onto the carpeting, at close range, never on the leather or plastic. ..
Again, not perfect, but closest I've found.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,445
Likes: 8,609
Zaino leather products do have a unique smell - that suggests leather. Its strong and last long. But its not the same as the original new car smell in the C8. I would test it first to see if it is something I want. I have used it in my F-150 truck, but I would not use it in my C8 because it is such a different odor.
As for where the smell comes from - thats explained in one of the posts above. I will only add - that in Cadillacs, GM put some sort of aromatic scent in their leather. They may put something in the C8 leather as well - but if they do, its different from Cadillac aromatic leather.
As for where the smell comes from - thats explained in one of the posts above. I will only add - that in Cadillacs, GM put some sort of aromatic scent in their leather. They may put something in the C8 leather as well - but if they do, its different from Cadillac aromatic leather.
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 1
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Mine faded pretty fast too, and I kind of missed it after a while. I ended up using a couple of scents from https://nothingbutscents.com/ to get a cleaner, warmer smell without that chemical punch. I usually crack the windows on early drives, which seems to help the off-gassing settle down quicker. Climate makes a huge difference for me; heat ramps it up, cold slows it down.
CF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Pittsburgh
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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The only sure way to keep that new car smell is to buy a new car every year! 
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 872
From: Indian land SC
I think of it as the corvette smell...its very different vs the new car smell in other cars...I actually had an altima rental this week that had the traditional new car smell which is very different from the corvette smell
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,742
Likes: 1,862
From: Myrtle Beach SC/Charlotte NC
It is interesting how some cars have a unique sent to them. I am not sure why, but Volkswagens have this smell that always gives me a headache/car sickish feeling, it has been that way since I was a kid and took a ride in my first bug. Now every time I get in a VW I flash back to that first ride and that feeling. Strange....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 818
Likes: 906
From: Cincinnati
Unfortunately, no modern cars smell even remotely close to the new cars smells of the 80s & 90s. I would love to smell that scent again.
Bought my C8 new in 22 and it tended to have an "adhesive" type smell, mostly emanating from the engine bay/trunk area. The car is mostly devoid of any smells now, despite the 2LT leather.
Years ago I had a 911, and that car always smelled like leather. Even as the years ticked on, it always had a strong leather scent.
Bought my C8 new in 22 and it tended to have an "adhesive" type smell, mostly emanating from the engine bay/trunk area. The car is mostly devoid of any smells now, despite the 2LT leather.
Years ago I had a 911, and that car always smelled like leather. Even as the years ticked on, it always had a strong leather scent.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,975
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From: Bonneville Salt Flats
"Carpet" (not only that, of course), so go to the stores and ask to be shown the latest arrivals. Sniff to your heart's content and if you find something you like buy a couple yards and leave in your car when not driven, preferably closed and in the sun. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,509
Likes: 724
From: Sausalito CA
Well, the Chemical Guys... new car scent... at 100% seemed to fail based on above to me...
BUT...as also mentioned above...
Any co-member concur that diluting the Chem Guys is a viable OEM new car scent restorer?
FWIW... an old trick was to place new leather scraps (or carpets) under the seats.
I just do seem to have a scrap shop close by
Zaino leather conditioners (or like) may also be an option, yet scent is so variable to individuals.
I have no experience/ comment with leather scent sprays.
I do wish to find a product to emulate that new car experience scent
BUT...as also mentioned above...
Any co-member concur that diluting the Chem Guys is a viable OEM new car scent restorer?
FWIW... an old trick was to place new leather scraps (or carpets) under the seats.
I just do seem to have a scrap shop close by
Zaino leather conditioners (or like) may also be an option, yet scent is so variable to individuals.
I have no experience/ comment with leather scent sprays.
I do wish to find a product to emulate that new car experience scent