Switching to an electric vehicle requires some adjustment, and some buyers might be nostalgic for what importer Astara Auto Finland describes as a faint smell of oil and gasoline that is "reminiscent of a car repair shop."
The solution is unique to Finland, and the company's marketing team announced in late October that the option is aimed at customers who may have already switched to an electric vehicle.
Finnish perfumer Max Pertula said he created the scent based on motor oil. He has also developed fragrances for other premium brands.
"Of course, it's a bit of a cheeky campaign," Klaus Pohjala of Astara Auto Finland said in a statement, acknowledging that South Korean automaker Kia wants to add a little fun to new electric vehicle drivers, N1 reports.
The Kia EV4 is coming to Europe in hatchback and sedan versions.
A slight hint of gasoline gives a lingering but muted tone to the scent, which leans toward fruity jasmine, Pertula said.
"Finally, I brought the composition to life by 'metalizing' and 'polishing' it with compounds of amber, birch tar and galbanum," he added.
An air freshener that evokes the scents of an internal combustion engine may seem unusual, but some electrical devices already recreate engine sounds and gear changes, so maybe it's not so strange after all?
Bonus video:
