Where Shall We Go? From Seaports to Scenic Byways, Travel Fresh
Summer road trip season is here, and with it comes a boost in customer traffic through convenience stores, hardware stores, auto dealers, car washes, and travel stops. While travelers stock up on snacks, drinks, and maps (or rather, apps), there’s another small indulgence they’re often looking for—something to make their ride more enjoyable.
Enter the humble car air freshener.
Small, giftable, and highly personal, car scents are a simple upsell that brings surprising joy to customers—and high margins to retailers. And during peak travel months, they practically sell themselves.
One smart option to have on your shelves? Drive Time® Aromables®.
These compact, refillable car air fresheners are made for modern drivers. No cords, no batteries, no leaks—just clean, long-lasting fragrance that rides shotgun. They're ideal for day-trippers, cross-country cruisers, and anyone who wants to personalize their car without a mess.
Mapping the Drive—and the Experience
Part of the fun of road tripping is how we each approach it differently. On a recent trip to Mystic, Connecticut, my husband and I had our usual pre-trip debate: I rely on Siri for turn-by-turn directions, while he insists on scanning the whole route like a general plotting troop movements. Paper maps may be a relic, but the ritual of “trip planning” still feels real.
With our route loaded and the GPS chiming away in the background, we plugged in our Drive Time Aromable—no buttons, no spills, just instant atmosphere. The scent gently filled the car as we drove past rivers, through construction zones (thanks for the heads-up, Google Maps), and into a salty-aired seaport town that looked like a living museum.
Mystic’s Historic Seaport Village is worth the trip. Cobblestone paths, shipbuilder’s shops, gardens with heirloom vegetables—it’s like stepping into a sea-soaked time capsule. It reminded me that sensory experiences aren’t just for museums—they’re for road trips too.
Scents to Match the Mood
Every driver has a style. So do the fragrances in the Drive Time Aromables line. These options have broad appeal and can easily be cross-merchandised with travel accessories, automotive items, or impulse-buy displays near the checkout:
Speedway: Earthy and energetic, with orris, vetiver, and musk.
Cottony Fresh: Crisp, clean, and a bit nostalgic—like line-dried laundry.
Ebony Forest: Warm and grounding, with patchouli, sandalwood, and musk.
Freesia: A gentle floral blend with jasmine, ylang-ylang, and almond oil.
They’re also refillable—so if a customer falls in love with a scent, they don’t have to throw out the whole unit to try a new one.
Small Footprint, Big Impact
For retailers, Drive Time Aromables check all the boxes:
Passive diffusion = no maintenance, no mess.
Refillable = repeat customers.
Compact = ideal for tight shelf space or countertop PDQs (6 per box).
Strong margins = high profitability on a low-investment item.
Whether it’s a grocery store near a national park, a car wash off the interstate, or a local hardware store in a vacation town, these little scent diffusers make sense—and cents.
Final Stop: Groton and a Cold Kolsch
Before we headed home, we swung by Outer Light Brewing Company in Groton (just 15 minutes from Mystic). No food service, but we brought in snacks and enjoyed a relaxing break. David opted for the Buzz Buoy Honey Kolsch, and I joined him—because if I’m going to drink beer, Kolsch is my pick. It’s light, smooth, and just different enough to feel special. Kind of like Aromables, come to think of it.
So whether your customers are hitting the highway or just freshening up their daily commute, help them take the scent of summer along for the ride—and give them a product they’ll come back for.
Lori Herr for Drive Time® Brand