[KarthikK]

Originally Posted by nileshch

I deviated from my usual My Shaldan Squash freshener and recently bought an Areon Wish gel-based one. Honestly, I did not like this particular fragrance. It smells strongly like an after-shave lotion. It was a big turnoff for everyone who got into my car. I am going back to my fruit flavoured fresheners!

If you didn't like Wish., chances are you won't like Dream and Desire either. All these are non-fruity.

You can try the fruity and citrus flavours under Areon. They are way better than MyShaldan in that they last at least for 2 months. I've found MyShaldan fragrances to fizzle out in 20-25 days even in a car where the windows are hardly ever opened, while Areon tins cost the same and last at least for 2 months.

I've used all the Areon flavours available, and I'd rate Passion as the most powerful for long-lasting scent. It lasted me almost for 4 months. Traces of the smell were there for a week even after I threw out the used tin from the car!

[nileshch]

Originally Posted by KarthikK

If you didn't like Wish., chances are you won't like Dream and Desire either. All these are non-fruity.

You can try the fruity and citrus flavours under Areon. They are way better than MyShaldan in that they last at least for 2 months. I've found MyShaldan fragrances to fizzle out in 20-25 days even in a car where the windows are hardly ever opened, while Areon tins cost the same and last at least for 2 months.

I've used all the Areon flavours available, and I'd rate Passion as the most powerful for long-lasting scent. It lasted me almost for 4 months. Traces of the smell were there for a week even after I threw out the used tin from the car!

Thanks Karthik. Yes, I too have noticed that the recent MyShaldan fresheners fizzle out fast. I'll try out the fruit flavours in Areon!

[Soumyajit9]

Outgoing: Ambi Pur - Pacific Air (Kept in the wardrobe for sometime to emit good fragrance in my clothes. LOL)
Incoming: Godrej Aer - Lush Green (Bought this to go with my car colour, but it got hidden in the casing)

How the Lush Green fragrance smells ?
As if someone has just took a bath with a Liril Soap !!

In any case, its a welcome change and the fragrance is not too strong, not to flat - its just effective There have been times when the windows are down and free diesel smoke rushes in. I simply roll up the windows and switch on the AC. The fragrance kills the diesel smoke within few seconds !!
The casing is very neat too ! The bottle completely hides within the casing. Silver colour is a mismatch for my black dash, but nevertheless, looks contrasting.

[saket77]

Using an Ambi pur- Pacific. Gets neatly tucked in the AC vents and has a grey casing, which matches with my dashboard colour. I have kept it on the lowest setting. Its effective, but not too strong. Whenever I need a blow of fragrance, I just switch in the blower. I think the refill costed about Rs. 150/-

[KarthikK]

Originally Posted by saket77

Using an Ambi pur- Pacific. Gets neatly tucked in the AC vents and has a grey casing, which matches with my dashboard colour. I have kept it on the lowest setting. Its effective, but not too strong. Whenever I need a blow of fragrance, I just switch in the blower. I think the refill costed about Rs. 150/-

I had a very bad experience with Ambipur on my old Accent. Just thought of sharing the experience to make other people aware.

This incident was around 3 years ago. I'd left the perfume dispenser in the usual A/C vent place after returning from office. Who'd remove it anyway? The vaporizer sponge part for some reason started to draw out the liquid perfume (maybe to air lock/vacuum which happens in straws) and the liquid started to drip from the AC vent downwards along the whole centre dash console. I noticed this after 2-3 days when I next started the car, but it was too late. I am sure this was the cause, the glass container was fully sealed and was not leaking by itself. Anyway, the stains formed by the dripping chemical perfume on the dash console remained permanent in spite of multiple treatments / cleaning sessions. These were vertical black streaks running from the AC vent onto the music system, AC controls and downwards near the gear lever.

After that horrific scarring experience, I don't think I will ever buy Ambipur or any other liquid freshener which needs attaching to AC vent or sticking to dashboard using double-sided tape. I'd rather prefer the gel-based tins which don't leak, and can be shoved under the seats invisible to passengers, yet doing their job.

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by KarthikK

I had a very bad experience with Ambipur on my old Accent. Just thought of sharing the experience to make other people aware.

I think there's a separate thread where many bhpians have posted their experience on this. In one case, this spilled over the center console and the HU. Left permanent marks and I think it even damaged the HU. Seeing this, I keep the air freshener on the driver side vent.

Also, gel based perfumes are not recommended. But still many people use it. A fellow bhpian from Cochin had a very bad experience. He was using gel based perfumes for years. He noticed that the AC wasnt cooling properly. When he took it to the service station, the first questions he asked was whether he was using any gel based perfumes. In fact, the gel evaporates and forms a layer on the AC coil which kind of damaged it. Hearing this from his mouth, I stopped using My Shaldan and even stopped any kind of perfumes. Right now using pot pourri oils.

[saket77]

Originally Posted by KarthikK

The stains formed by the dripping chemical perfume on the dash console remained permanent in spite of multiple treatments / cleaning sessions. These were vertical black streaks running from the AC vent onto the music system, AC controls and downwards near the gear lever.

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

In fact, the gel evaporates and forms a layer on the AC coil which kind of damaged it.

Very good & informative posts. I will keep them in mind. Other ways to keep the car smelling good excluding these two will be highly appreciated and would benefit other people here too.

Thanks,
Saket

[KarthikK]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

Also, gel based perfumes are not recommended. But still many people use it. A fellow bhpian from Cochin had a very bad experience. He was using gel based perfumes for years. He noticed that the AC wasnt cooling properly. When he took it to the service station, the first questions he asked was whether he was using any gel based perfumes. In fact, the gel evaporates and forms a layer on the AC coil which kind of damaged it. Hearing this from his mouth, I stopped using My Shaldan and even stopped any kind of perfumes. Right now using pot pourri oils.

Oh oh, this is shocking! looks like every kind of perfume has some problem or the other . Time for me to try the pot pourri oils you speak of

[n_aditya]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

Right now using pot pourri oils.

Wouldn't the oils have any cons such as leakage, etc.?

How feasible is it to place a packet of those dried petal pot pourri which one can buy in shoppers stop, etc.? Would the smell last for a long time?

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by KarthikK

Oh oh, looks like every kind of perfume has some problem or the other . Time for me to try the pot pourri oils you speak of

. Pot Pourri itself will have it's own problems. The reason why I use them is because it's long lasting and gives out a nice fragrance when compared to ambipur. The mistake I made the first time - I poured the entire ambipur bottle with these oils. The smell was way too strong. I had use that entire bottle kept at min position till it became empty. That was easily more than 5-6 months after which I got bored and kept it at home. Some people actually recommended mixing it with water but havent tried that. Add few drops and keep in min position. This is what works for me. Now that I'm bored of oils, I have to find something new.

[KarthikK]

Originally Posted by saket77

Other ways to keep the car smelling good excluding these two will be highly appreciated and would benefit other people here too.

The other alternative is to use Jute based perfumes, which also come in tins. I have tried Areon black crystal and some other contemporaries, but they are not as powerful (in fragrance spread) or long lasting as gel-based perfumes. Not bad either.

Okay I know one more - those thin cardboard-like fresheners that people hang around the IRVM mirrors. They are not effective though, I'd purchased one at a Shell bunk and it hardly lasted me for 10 days.

Originally Posted by n_aditya

How feasible is it to place a packet of those dried petal pot pourri which one can buy in shoppers stop, etc.? Would the smell last for a long time?

Good option, definitely worth trying

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by n_aditya

Wouldn't the oils have any cons such as leakage, etc.?

How feasible is it to place a packet of those dried petal pot pourri which one can buy in shoppers stop, etc.? Would the smell last for a long time?

Yes, it will definitely leak but I feel since it's more viscous it should be better than other liquid perfumes which are kind of watery in form.
Dried petal was in my mind but the problem was how to keep it? The best bet would be to keep it in a closed tin with small holes. The major problem with these dried leaves is that they easily break apart especially when it's motion or even when left stationery (this is from my personal experience only). So eventually it's becomes like a powder and somewhat close to it and might finally end up in the carpets without our knowledge. So might do the trick for a short period but doubt what the case maybe in the long run. Just my personal opinion.

Originally Posted by KarthikK

Okay I know one more - those thin cardboard-like fresheners that people hang around the IRVM mirrors. They are not effective though, I'd purchased one at a Shell bunk and it hardly lasted me for 10 days.

This is a total waste. I bought couple of "Little Trees" for my car. I think it comes under 80 bucks. The smell was excellent (again, a personal choice). The one I used was Black Ice. But the end result - lasted for a week.

[Animesh]

I use My Shaldan squash in my car (first car perfume ever for me) and now my car smells like those orange cream biscuits I used to eat when I was a kid. It's very very fruity indeed and just manages to not being repulsive. I am definitely in the lookout of something more neutral.

[Soumyajit9]

Originally Posted by n_aditya

How feasible is it to place a packet of those dried petal pot pourri which one can buy in shoppers stop, etc.? Would the smell last for a long time?

When i bought the car, I had also bought a packet of those dried scented leaves, popularly known as Pot Pourri, purely out of excitement. What a waste of money ! The fragrance stays for not more than a month. And since I got it from Shoppers Stop, it costed a fortune.

[Optimus7]

Originally Posted by KarthikK

This should help :
http://www.ebay.in/sch/i.html?_trksi...at=0&_from=R40

I usually buy in bulk as in ~5-6 tins for my cars and my friends' cars from that seller (I think his ID is carlooks or something). I get my package the very next day, or in 2 days flat!

Thanks Karthik, I just placed an order for Original Areon Ken Car,Home,office Air Freshener Lemon Flavor. (281081452497), will post the feedback once I got the product.