Patent landscapes › Vehicles & travel

Is a car air freshener patented?

Short answer: specific designs of a car air freshener have been patented many times, but "a car air freshener" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.

What our index shows
  • 33 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “carvehicle air freshenerfragrancescent” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
  • Among the 17 best keyword matches we examined, 7 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2000.
  • Most frequent assignees in those matches: POLAT ADEM (1), GEE RACHEL (1), REINHARDT RAMONA (1), MILLER-LARRY SHELIA (1).
  • Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): A61L (17), B60H (15), B60R (3), H02J (1).

Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.

14 real patent publications related to a car air freshener

  1. Garment-shaped Vehicle Air Freshener US-2026200297-A1 2026 · DAMRON KEVIN
    A novelty air freshener device configured in the shape of women's undergarments, featuring a porous body for gradual fragrance release. The air freshener incorporates adult-oriented fragrances, including formulations designed …
    View on Google Patents
  2. Vehicle air freshener US-11987101-B2 2024 · YAHNITE JOHN
    An air freshener device for an automobile includes a housing, a removable vented cover, and an interior chamber containing a fan and a heater. The housing is structured for removable receipt of a wax melt container within an upper…
    View on Google Patents
  3. A configuration for car air freshener module and wireless charging module integration WO-2023086043-A1 2023 · POLAT ADEM
    A mounting apparatus (A) for use in vehicles, which can be fastened to in-vehicle surfaces, allows for mounting two different modules inside a single configuration and enables integration of these modules, comprising a top cover (…
    View on Google Patents
  4. Vehicle air freshener kit provided on safety belt buckle WO-2023140442-A1 2023 · PARK&WORKS CO LTD
    The present invention relates to a vehicle air freshener kit provided on a safety belt buckle comprising: a fragrance emitter coupling part for accommodating a fragrance chip; an outer shell part, which encompasses a safety belt b…
    View on Google Patents
  5. Vehicle air freshener US-11059353-B1 2021 · HOPKINS MFG CORPORATION
    An air freshener includes a housing; scented beads contained within the housing; and a mounting clip for attaching the housing to a source of pressurized air. The housing has several air flow slots or openings and is rotatably cou…
    View on Google Patents
  6. Automatic car air freshener US-2020254852-A1 2020 · GEE RACHEL
    An automatic car air freshener system is disclosed that is configured to integrate into existing ducting of a vehicle and selectively disperse a measured amount of scent matter into the ducts for dispersion into the cabin of the v…
    View on Google Patents
  7. Vehicle air freshener module US-10427502-B1 2019 · IZAGUIRRE ARMANDO
    An air freshener module is installed in a compartment slot formed in the dashboard of a vehicle. The module includes a body having a front section and a rear section. The rear section has an air inlet port that is adapted for coup…
    View on Google Patents
  8. Usb plug in vehicle air freshener US-2018056757-A1 2018 · MURPHY JONATHAN
    A USB plug in vehicle air freshener for dispensing a fragrance in a host vehicle. The vehicle air freshener has an elongated freshener body that includes on its exterior a USB jack for plugging into a USB plug on the host vehicle …
    View on Google Patents
  9. Air freshener vent clip and accessory US-2013341424-A1 2013 · HAYLOFT ENTPR INC
    An air freshener clip removably engages with a louver or slat of a vent, such as an automotive heating and air conditioner vent. The clip may have a curved body that tapers from a clip bend at its proximal end to a tip at its dist…
    View on Google Patents
  10. Vehicle air freshener having a prayer and sound message player US-2013015265-A1 2013 · SHUVAL MARCK
    An air freshener includes a hollow casing having a rear fastener and a lower slot for attachment to a reservoir equipped with a wick for dispersing air freshener through the front holes of said casing. An electronic sound device i…
    View on Google Patents
  11. Vehicle air freshener US-8197761-B1 2012 · MILLER-LARRY SHELIA
    A vehicle air freshener includes an elongated, substantially cylindrical housing having an angled upper end, a lower end and an interior chamber. Within the interior chamber is an electric heater and a removable cartridge containi…
    View on Google Patents
  12. Vehicle air freshener diffuser US-7780094-B2 2010 · ZOBELE ESPANA SA
    A diffuser for an air freshener product includes a casing having front and rear casing portions fastened together. A neck opening is formed inside said casing into which a neck of an air freshener reservoir is secured. A wick exte…
    View on Google Patents
  13. Coffee aroma vehicle air freshener US-2006292110-A1 2006 · REINHARDT RAMONA
    A car freshener comprising of a pre-formed material constructed to absorb a scent and a coffee flavored scent affixed to the pre-formed material.
    View on Google Patents
  14. Vehicle air freshener powered from cigarette lighter receptacle US-6099137-A 2000
    An improved air freshener for use inside motor vehicles in which heat produced by a light bulb within the air freshener housing controls the release of fragrance from a removable fragrance impregnated pad positioned in close proxi…
    View on Google Patents

What this means for your idea

Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a car air freshener been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Vehicle accessories and travel gear differ in how they attach, fold, lock or secure items.

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Guides that help with this

First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.