Distinct Aroma Offers Temporary High

I have realized during my stint here at Mother Proof that a definite altered state occurs when one encounters New Car Smell. For me, any initial positive, lovey feelings I get from a car must be held at arm's length, knowing the unbelievable sway New Car Smell has on me. I can't produce a negative comment when high on NCS. I can drive a real lemon, but as long as it smells new, it doesn't seem so bad. Any car can make me pretty happy as long as it has that smell; it's like vehicular pheromones.

Many studies have been done analyzing New Car Smell. Turns out it's a nasty combination of Volatile Organic Compounds from all the glue, dye, plastic, leather and other things that go into a new car (thus explaining why the perfume at the carwash doesn't quite do the job). Great; yet another thing I like that's bad for me.

Some foreign manufacturers like Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Mazda and Volvo are adhering to new standards that reduce the number of VOCs. Still some others aren't, and there are no standards in the United States to which manufacturers have to adhere. Environmental groups are working to change that, but apparently 90 percent of these VOCs are emitted during the first three weeks of ownership of a new car. So maybe we just need to keep the windows open more often after we initially purchase a car.

Or you can breathe deeply and blissfully ignore those weird noises coming from the backseat. Oh, wait. Those are the kids. It's up to you.