Dog and dust is never a good combination. My sniffer can pick up on dog scent in 2 seconds flat. Try activated carbon in a shallow open container under the seats. It will keep the odors at bay for a couple of months. Baking soda is also a good option and it works quickly. I love driving my DII, even if it smells like an aging plastic dashboard and coolant combined.

From a female perspective, I don't care for new car smells or cushy vehicles... Rosemary is a nice scent - most women dig it and it's a moth repellent. I think the perfect car smell is a combination of the woods, pine needles, worn leather, hot coffee, smoke, and adventure.

... and maybe a chunky candy bar.

 

Are your interior plastics decaying?

This is going to sound insane but when I bought my 2000 Disco, in the summer heat, it smelled like sweat and a bit of tangy vomit. I couldn't get rid of the smell in the truck, whenever it was parked outside in the 90+ heat.

I accidentally found it was 4 pieces of deteriorating plastic inside: the front & rear grab handles in the headliner over the doors. My truck was from CA/TX, grab handles were chalky, and decaying from heat/age. I got a set from a junked car that were perfect (from a 2004). When I took mine off, I noticed my hands smelled terrible. Then I smelled the grab handles. Holy hell awful. The grab handles ironically say "BMW" on them, go figure.

The smell has gone away now with new grab handles.

 

This thread is epic and absolutely spot on

Only been an owner for a few weeks but can 100% attest to all the above.

+1 to everything 😂 🍻

 

I use this air freshener brand in my '04

The scents are subtle and smell like nature, and the wood blocks look better than a cardboard Christmas tree. Good enough for me!

 

I replaced the carpet with vinyl, painted the headliner, dyed my leather seats, cleaned the HVAC squirrel fan, removed the alcantara door inserts, no oil drips and no coolant leaks....... It still smells like oil, coolant and unconditional loyalty.

 

In my mind...the most appropriate scent would be...the aroma of charcoal and burnt steel wafting lazily upon a summer nights breeze, being eventually wisked away under the dancing stars and guiding eye of a full moon's magical halo...all with the slightest hint of a match and gasoline mingling amongst its splendor.

But, that's just me...lol.

 

assuming the truck is parked for the evening, throw in the scent of an unpeated Islay single malt and i'm with you.

 

uh oh. wait. you weren't suggesting burning the Rover to the ground on a moon lit night, were you?

 

I've used this with good success - blow it in the fresh air vent from the outside and from the inside recirc vent, spray the carpet etc.
HOWEVER........let it air out afterwards because ozone has a smell of its own when its fresh.

 

My man! Now we’re talkin.

Bruichladdich Rocks FTW 🤘🤘🥃🥃