How the ‘new car’ scent became a nostalgic favourite for drivers

A poll of 2,000 adults found others have an affection towards the scent of rain, the ‘new car’ smell, and newspaper pages.

But a fifth confess they’re sometimes embarrassed about their love of odd smells, which also include cigarette smoke, manure and wet dog.

The study found 47% of adults have a link between an odd smell and a positive memory.

It emerged that 46% of those who took part in the study associate certain smells with people they’ve met, and 63% can be transported back to a childhood holiday just by a scent in their nostrils.

Erin Baker, editorial director at Auto Trader, who conducted the study, said: “People often find themselves drawn to unusual scents because they evoke strong emotions or memories.”

Additionally, 63% claim smells can have an influence on their mood and 45% can even be encouraged to buy something if it’s got the right aroma.

The study found Brits are far more likely to prefer natural scents to those made synthetically (68% compared to just 5%). Citrus scents were voted the best smell category by 34%, followed by woody (33%) and floral (32%) aromas.

To celebrate the uniquely popular scent of ‘new car’, Fred Sirieix has teamed up with automotive platform for new and used cars Auto Trader, to create a list of distinctive scent profiles for various car brands.

The smelling notes are said to “capture the essence of each brand, from the earthy richness of Land Rover, to the nostalgic blend of British oak and tobacco leaf in Vauxhall.”

The First Dates star said: “Some people might not like to admit that they enjoy unusual scents. But taste is subjective, and one person’s rose might be another’s seaweed – we don’t like to judge.

“If people are getting their joy from the aroma of a brand new car, who are we to say they are wrong?”

Specifically, 21% would like the ‘new car smell’ to last for the entire time they owned their new vehicle. And a quarter said they would purchase an electric car to avoid fuel smells, with 14% suggesting electric is a way to have the ‘new car smell’ last longer.

Erin Baker added: “When you hear the term ‘new car smell’, you can instantly imagine what that smells like.”

“It’s a very evocative smell that can bring joy, pride and relief the moment you step into your new vehicle and we had a lot of fun trying to pinpoint exactly what those smells are with the help of Fred’s discerning nose.”