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If you experienced the JDM craze back in the 90s and 2000s, you’re probably very familiar with the highly popular squash car scent that was ubiquitous in all kinds of cars during that time. You might describe this scent like citrus, mixed with bubblegum and Ramune Japanese Soda. If you know me, you know I’m all about the Golden Era of cars of the 90s & 2000s. To me, the car scent that is synonmous with this period of time is not the little trees hanging off the rear view mirror, but one of the variations of the squash air fresheners of that time.
Air Spencer GIGA Clip
Find on Amazon: Air Spencer GIGA Clip Car Air Freshener & Refills
This is the one that I remember most from the 2000s, as it had a really pleasant squash smell. It clips to your vent, so it’s easy to attach to your car vent and stays out of your way. The refills are these little cylindrical cartridges that can be replaced very easily by unscrewing the side cap of the air freshener unit. You can then turn the other side of the unit to open or close the vent for a stronger or weaker scent.
The scent is strong when you open the scent cartridge for the first time, but it after a few days the smell is pretty light. I actually do prefer that the smell is not too overpowering, so in terms of how much scent it gives off, this is probably my most preferred these days as I don’t like the smell to be too strong.
In terms of looks, if you are okay with the air freshener taking up a little bit of space on your vent, then it will work great. The overall profile of the air freshener is quite sleek, so it doesn’t look bad attached to your vent. If you prefer your vents to be completely unblocked, then this air freshener clip won’t work for you.
Air Spencer Squash CS-X3
Find on Amazon: CS-X3 Squash Air Spencer Air Freshener & Refill
This is another great smelling air freshener from Air Spencer called the CS-X3. This is also a highly popular option, which smells like the GIGA Clip one above. The “cartridge” in this one is more of a gel rather than the chalk-type of the GIGA, so the smell is definitely more overpowering. For this one, you simply install the cartridge inside of the air freshener case, and attach it using the included double-sided tape. If you have the cover open, you can slide the vent open or closed on the cartridge itself for more or less scent.
The look of the CS-X3 is really nice and has a timeless sleek design. It can be attached to your dashboard, which how I remember these things being installed all the time. You just have to be aware that when it comes time to remove it, it might damage your dashboard. Or, it can leave the adhesive marks behind, which you’ll have to take some additional steps to completely remove. I do like this air freshener as it has a protective case in the case that the gel leaks, which can cause damage by burning the interior vinyl or plastics.
Chemical Guys JDM Squash Scent
More recently, Chemical Guys has come up with their own variation of the squash scent called the JDM Squash Scent. This product is in a liquid form that sprays into your interior to give off this supposed squash scent. I don’t recommend this product because (1) it doesn’t smell anything like the squash scent that we all remember and love, and (2) it sprays in a stream, so it doesn’t actually dispurse the smell uniformly and you end up with a stream of this liquid spraying into your interior. I honestly don’t understand the use case of this product, but I’d steer clear.
So What’s the Best Japanese Squash Car Air Freshener?
So, which one should you buy? If you want the authentic squash scent, you need to go with the classic Air Spencer products. If you prefer a more subtle scent and prefer the look of the air freshener clipped to your air vent, then pick the Air Spencer GIGA Clip. If you want that sleek, rectangular, low-profile housing for the air freshener that sticks to your dash, go with the Air Spencer CS-X3 instead.
