factory smell

[Nerass]

has anyone had anyone luck restoring the factory smell of new leather on these cars? my car was stolen last year and the individuals decided to hotbox the car for the period of time they had it... ive gotten rid of the dank smell but it doesn't smell how it used to.

any suggestions for restoring the factory smell?

not looking to cover it with a bunch of chemical guys products like the stripper scent or whatever..

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[NJ3]

Have new leather seats covers installed from Katzkin or leatherseats.com? :shrug:

 

[Nerass]

Bah

 

[Jay-rod427]

Maybe not the exact "new car smell", but I find any quality leather cleaner/protectant to have a nice factoryish smell.

 

[bodam]

Try the leather conditioner from Zaino. It's the best smelling leather product I've used.

 

[Chef jpd]

 

[tsunami]

I second this..

Try the leather conditioner from Zaino. It's the best smelling leather product I've used.

I agree...I use Zaino every couple of months. Not 'new car' vinyl outgassing smell...but a gentle 'new leather' smell. And it protects the leather

 

[Nerass]

It's a little different from normal leather perfume smell

 

[2015Etrac]

I would try Chemical guys leather cleaner to get any remaining smell out, then hit it with the leather conditioner which has a new leather smell. Also, I just picked up some Griots "leather scent" air freshener which should be here tomorrow. From all accounts it add's a really nice leather smell to the car. I generally use Cockpit Premium for the rest of my car which has a nice smell, but not a "new car smell". I'll let you know how the Griots leather scent works when I get it tomorrow.

 

[Nerass]

its a little different than new car smell, but yea def let me know !!

 

[2015Etrac]

its a little different than new car smell, but yea def let me know !!

Well the Griots Leather Smell is not impressing me. I haven't sprayed it in the car but it has a strong chemical type smell that doesn't really smell like leather. I almost thought they accidentally sent me the new car smell version since they tend to smell more chemical like. Maybe once I spray it in the car it will smell different. Have you tried using an odor neutralizer?

 

[Nerass]

yea I used one and it kind of made the car just smell like cinnamon or clove? I don't know I wasn't impressed. going to try a few things today. I just want the natural-ish smell. any harm with using light amount of dish soap and some water on the interior parts ? (leather seats dash plastic )

 

[2015Etrac]

yea I used one and it kind of made the car just smell like cinnamon or clove? I don't know I wasn't impressed. going to try a few things today. I just want the natural-ish smell. any harm with using light amount of dish soap and some water on the interior parts ? (leather seats dash plastic )

Dish soap should be safe, but try a test spot just to make sure. I would wipe everything down really well to get rid of any remaining smells. I'd hit the seats with some leather cleaner and a soft brush. I'd wipe down the dash and door panels really well with some Cockpit Premium or watered down dish soap on a damp cloth. I'd probably give the carpets a quick shampoo, clean the interior windows, and maybe the headliner (not sure of the best way to clean the headliner). After I was done cleaning I would leave the windows open and let it dry, then roll them up and let it sit in the sun/heat for a few hours. The heat seems to bring back the new car smell for me, and it's much more noticeable on a warm day. It seems like when the leather warms up it releases the natural smell again? However, I generally just use an air freshener anymore, the vanilla ones smell pretty good. I drive with my windows down, even in winter so I can hear my exhaust, so the new car smell doesn't last very long, even when it does return. It's a trial and error process, just make sure you test any new cleaning products in small out of the way spots to make sure they are not going to cause any damage. Since you said it was stolen, is the insurance company willing to pay for a professional detailing?

 

[Nerass]

I opted out of it because it wouldn't have met my deductible since there was no damage that wasn't covered by warranty.

 

[JohnBoyNC]

Ok.....I had to look up what a "hotbox" was.......

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