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That distinctive smell inside a brand-new car isn't a special fragrance added by manufacturers. It's caused by hundreds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) slowly being released from plastics, adhesives, fabrics, and other interior materials. Scientists call this process off-gassing.
The smell gradually fades as those compounds dissipate over time. Researchers have studied it because air quality inside new vehicles can temporarily differ from older ones. That scent many people love is actually the smell of brand-new materials.
© U.S. Environmental Protection Agency