WarrenJ Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 Don't get me wrong here, Baby doesn't "smell." I'm a smoker, but I rarely smoke in the car, and even then, only with the window open at speed. Okay, nearly a year after I purchased Baby from a dealer she still had a slightly sweet, pleasant unidentifiable odor. I went back to the dealer and enquired; negative results. We've all tried the "hangy-from-the-mirror" thingys. Good for a day or two. Aerosol sprays, the same. "Under-the-seat" smell-makers will drive you to open the windows simply as a survival mechanism. My guess is that the only two interior components that are capable of retaining a fragrance for any length of time would include the carpets and the leather seats. Now, my friends at the brushless carwash are kind to Baby in many ways, but they BEAT THE CRAP out of my floormats. Vacuum them and then dunk them in a machine that does I-don't-want-to-know-what to them. Okay, the next available culprit has to be the leather. Yeah, that's it. After a recent "detailing," including the interior, I was disappointed at the absence of some sort of "leather smell." The detailer assured me he'd applied some sort of conditioner. Prior to this, the rear seats were "pristene" and the fronts were in pretty good shape. The fronts cleaned up nicely. Well, if you've read this far, I guess you're ready for my question: Have you any familiarity with a leather conditioner that leaves a long lasting enjoyable olefactory presence that doesn't smell like a French whore? Regards, Warren P.S. Apologies to the French, sort of. There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 You could be fighting whatever chemistry the dealer, or detailer, applied to your carpeting / headliner before you bought the car. I would try copious quantities of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to neutralize the sweet odor. Spread the baking soda in cookie sheets and put one in the front floor and one or two in the rear floor (remove the floor mats). Trunk too?? If that works for you, then you can try to find a leather aroma. Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenJ Posted November 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 You could be fighting whatever chemistry the dealer, or detailer, applied to your carpeting / headliner before you bought the car. I would try copious quantities of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to neutralize the sweet odor. Spread the baking soda in cookie sheets and put one in the front floor and one or two in the rear floor (remove the floor mats). Trunk too?? If that works for you, then you can try to find a leather aroma. I'm sorry, I wasn't plain. The odor is GONE; I want it back! Regards, Warren There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 I use Lexol leather cleaner and conditioner. If I were you I would clean the hell out of those seats with a soft brush paying special attention to the stitch lines and the cracks (vacuum the seats with a high power vacuum before you start speaking of cracks). Afterward use an ample amount of conditioner. Its possible that the detailer is using a product that is sealing your seats. You need to clean the leather so it can breath again maybe, and feed the leather.. Cleaning leather seats is hard work, and requires elbow grease. The harder you work with leather the better it gets. I use Lexol, I have tried Maguires but Lexol seems to soften the leather quickly). Once I year I clean my seats like a fanatic and they are beautiful for a long time. Come to think of it, they are due.... Check out this How To: http://www.lexol.com/docs.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIMDTS Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 I use lexol leather soap to clean the leather then conditioner. So far on both of my cars I have not used the conditioner. Just the leather soap smell ok after. I know what you mean about the stuff the dealers use It does smell like a french Ho that had been rode hard and put up wet. I had that smell in my 01 for a couple weeks when I purchased it I had the windows down every time i parked the car. I'm glad it went away.. I smoke in my car and I don't have any oders from smoking but I use a seaerate ash tray and I don't the one in the car and it works for me. I just wipe down the seats every couple months with the lexol soap and it does the job I wash the carpet about 1 time per yr. and use a vac. every couple weeks. When I purcased the 01 I asked the dealer what is that crap you are using it smells nasty the owner just looked at me and said he would check it out.Every used car had that NASTY perfume odor.I have not npticed that smell in any of there cars after that.So he must have took my complaint serious. I had to clean the interior washed it all with carpet shampo and leather soap I'm glad that French Ho smell went away.. Jim If you want that smell back You could always go ask the detail person at the dealer what they use and they probably will just give you some or have them redo your car.. I work with a guy who likes that perfume smell in his car he pours PIMP oil down the A/C ducts and it fills that cabin with a perfume smell It makes for a REAL GHETTO ride.. I rode in his car one time and that was enough for me my eyes actually strated to tear up from that stuff I had to crack a window..Just to survive Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 A recommendation for leather care products can be compared to a cocktail discussion of politics/religion/sexual preference. To be avoided! But, here I go. My approach is this..... I do not use any product on my leather if I would not use that product on my skin. After a heavy duty application of vacuum, wash the leather clean with a mild detergent; I use Woolite. Apply liberal quantities of Mink Oil (available at shoe stores) and let it soak in as long as possible before buffing off surface oil. Labor intensive but worth the effort to me. Aroma is optional. Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenJ Posted November 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 A recommendation for leather care products can be compared to a cocktail discussion of politics/religion/sexual preference. To be avoided! But, here I go. JimD, I glad you so easily violated your first maxim! Maybe we can leave the sex for later. I can do politics/religion at the drop of your hat. Let me be clear: it DIDN'T have the French unchaste olefactory advantage. Rather, it was a subtle nut/fruity/something kinda thing that was not ovelwhelming, but pleasant just the same as a background thing. The dealer was not forthcoming. I use Lexol leather cleaner and conditioner. If I were you I would clean the hell out of those seats with a soft brush paying special attention to the stitch lines and the cracks (vacuum the seats with a high power vacuum before you start speaking of cracks). Afterward use an ample amount of conditioner. Its possible that the detailer is using a product that is sealing your seats. You need to clean the leather so it can breath again maybe, and feed the leather. Scotty, They're no cracks, only creases. Neither is there a "lustre." I'm left to beleive NO CONDITIONER was applied. Any conditioner would have left an odor, however shortlived. You must keep in mind that I threatened the lives of the children of his grandchildren if he put *ANYTHING* containing silicone on my leather. Regards, Warren There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill K Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Zaino Leather in a Bottle.... Some of the best smelling stuff I have used. Try it--you'll like it. http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Not sure what you were smelling in your car but I have always used an air freshener of one sort or the other. Lately I have used the Glade air freshener that you clip to the vent. It comes in several sents and is not over whelming. I love the French Vanilla. While not a big fan of the French, I do like their whores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Not sure what you were smelling in your car but I have always used an air freshener of one sort or the other. Lately I have used the Glade air freshener that you clip to the vent. It comes in several sents and is not over whelming. I love the French Vanilla. While not a big fan of the French, I do like their whores. There are times I like that cheap smell also.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenJ Posted November 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 I love the French Vanilla. While not a big fan of the French, I do like their whores. I expect that a response would be: c'est dangerous. But, yeah, vanilla is good. There are times I like that cheap smell also.... Ah, oui oui, BUT NOT IN MY CAR YOU DON'T! Zip it! Regards, Warren There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenJ Posted November 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 While not a big fan of the French . . . . It's difficult to imagine anyone being a fan these days . . . . There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of a voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved. - Ludwig von Mises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyman_2 Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Good Ideas here. I might try that Leather in a Bottle out. But, I had an Idea. What about a small piece of leather. Thick and small enough to fit under the seats? Would this release enough leather smell?? Seems like a pretty cheap idea. Plus, it's a real leather smell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caddypete Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Find a Bently or rolls royce dealer buy some of their leather food, it will make your car smell like brand new leather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadian95sts Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 I find that using saddle soap to condition the leather works great. Leaves thhe leather smoothe as hell and provides the desired new leather smell. Can be a bit teadious in applying , but well worth the work. Matt A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...BUT, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "darn...that was fun!" www.madd.ca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjayzway Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 I find that using saddle soap to condition the leather works great. Leaves thhe leather smoothe as hell and provides the desired new leather smell. Can be a bit teadious in applying , but well worth the work. Matt Ditto! I use "FARNAM" LEATHER NEW LIQUID GLYCERINE SADDLE SOAP. I get it at the local co-op. It's about $20.00Can. a bottle, but worth every penny! Big Jay Life is too short to grow up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedCadillac Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 I dont care for any of the deoderizers myself. Just keep it clean. But, my Dad who worked for GM years ago taught me a trick that will give you a little of the "New Car" smell. Get some of the car touch-up paint, spray it on a piece of cardboard and put it under the seat. Works great fro a few weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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