Nissan hopes to preserve and improve new car smell with scent lab

Nissan strives to improve the interior of its vehicles, one of which is to ensure that every car smells like new for as long as possible. To do this, Nissan has an odor laboratory and a person responsible for analyzing the smell of every component of the car.

Automakers like Nissan are constantly looking for ways to improve the customer experience. This includes adding new technologies and updating the interior of favorite models like the Frontier pickup. More literally, Nissan also wants its cars to have the coolest interiors.

There is no denying that a great new car smell is one of the highlights when buying any car. However, this smell is not a given: even popular new cars can stink straight from the factory. That's why Nissan is trying to improve their cars with a dedicated team of trackers.

Where does the smell of a new car come from?

New ones come from all over the interior of the car and from its building materials. Fabric and vinyl produce unique flavors. However, there is also an invisible glue that holds the components together. Before assemblers add these materials to the vehicle, they also collect odors during the manufacturing process.

No two new cars smell the same due to different trim levels and different materials used by each automaker. Once the vehicle is ready, all these odors are gradually released into the air through a process called degassing. Excessive heat exacerbates this phenomenon, so you will smell more distinctly in a hot car.

Inside the Nissan Odor Lab

To ensure that drivers experience the most pleasant odours, Nissan's "smell engineer" hand-smells each component. At the automaker's technical center in Europe, this task is carried out by Peter Carl Eastland. Although he didn't go to school to become a professional noser, he is blessed with an extremely keen sense of smell, a gift he realized he had at a young age, explains Nissan. He also holds a master's degree in chemistry.

Eastland sniffs every inside of a car under different conditions to get the most accurate scent. In addition to the smell of the materials inside, evaluate each for the risk of allergic reactions. Eastland says smell is often overlooked, but it's an essential part of driving, especially on quiet luxury models.

Nissan receives air samples for aroma analysis

Nissan has named Tory Kirl the Leading Pathfinder in North America. She says that Nissan of America has a standard for how each component should smell on the scale. Kirl says that the most pleasant smell depends on the market, and each of them requires special equipment.

Kirl and his materials engineers place cars in environmental chambers to experience the full range of interior flavors. They also take air samples to make sure there are only small amounts of volatile organic compounds inside the car. VOCs are the main culprits of outgassing, so it is not possible to completely avoid them. If the material smells too strong, the team meets to discuss how to change it to something else.

In addition, Kirl notes that the smell of a new car delights consumers, evoking their memories. This smell can remind them of how hard they worked to buy a car, or how excited they are for new adventures. He also says that the smell of a new car can boost driver confidence and overall mood.

How to reproduce the smell of a new car

Unfortunately, the smell of a new car usually only lasts for a few months after purchase. Less pleasant odors such as smelly feet, food, and smoke replace the original smell. However, dealers can usually remove many odors with ionizers. This is why certified used cars smell almost like new.

Air ionizers are expensive and most consumers and experts agree that cheap car air fresheners are not as effective as ionizers. Spread that new car smell by vacuuming, cleaning the air vents, and shampooing the seats and rugs. If you're unsure about your cleaning skills, consider hiring a professional cleaner.

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