I was a royal car cleaner – these kitchen ingredients made vehicles smell 'luxurious'

Natural Car Freshener Tip: Royal Fleet Detailer’s Secret to a Majestic Vehicle Interior Scent

For over a decade, Martin Cooper meticulously cleaned prestigious vehicles within the Royal fleet. During this period, he discovered a simple yet effective technique to maintain a pleasant interior aroma in cars, avoiding the use of harsh chemical-based cleaning products. This natural car freshener method relies on readily available ingredients and offers a subtle, refreshing scent.

The Four-Ingredient “Luxurious” Car Scent Hack

Cooper advocated for a straightforward method to imbue vehicles with a “premium” fragrance using just four affordable ingredients, costing less than £1 in total. “I would heat water to boiling point, add slices or peels of fruit, and allow it to infuse for a short period. The warmth extracts the natural oils, saturating the cloth with the delightful aroma,” he disclosed to Number 1 Plates. “Subsequently, I would take the warm, fruit-infused cloth and discreetly place it behind an air vent or beneath a seat. This would emit a beautiful, subtle scent that persisted for several hours.”

Lime for an Invigorating Car Aroma

Lime was his primary fruit of choice, priced economically, which he noted imparted a “refreshing” fragrance.

“I would briefly boil lime slices, then encase the warm fruit in a breathable pouch and conceal it near the footwell,” Martin elaborated. “On one occasion, a member of my team questioned whether we had switched the car air freshener. In fact, we hadn’t – it was simply a lime from my kitchen.”

“Spa Blend” for Special Occasions: Orange and Rosemary Car Scent

For more significant events or extended journeys, Martin formulated what he termed a “spa blend,” incorporating orange and rosemary.

“I would add orange peel and a sprig of rosemary to boiling water, allow it to steep for approximately five minutes, and then immerse a small cloth in the resulting mixture,” he clarified.

“Once the cloth was warm and slightly damp, I would subtly tuck it away behind the dashboard or under a seat. This method created a clean, premium, and fresh scent within the car – all without revealing its origin.”

Banana Peel for a Subtle and Comforting Car Fragrance

Another technique involved bananas, an inexpensive option, which produced a “subtle” and “soothing” aroma.

He explained: “I would place banana peel into boiling water for a few minutes to warm it, then enclose it in a cotton cloth and position it near the vehicle’s heater vent. This generated a gentle, creamy warmth in the air – comforting, yet not overpowering.” This final tip provides a unique approach to achieving a pleasant and naturally scented car interior.