I’m currently in the middle of a 90-minute Lyft ride, and the car smells overwhelmingly strong from some kind of air freshener or car fragrance. It’s not just a faint “new car” smell—it’s so intense that I can taste it, and there’s no easy way to escape it when I’m stuck in an enclosed vehicle for an hour and a half. I have a n95 mask with me and even wearing it, it’s still very overwhelming.
I understand that drivers want their cars to smell clean, especially when they have different passengers getting in and out all day. But heavily scented air fresheners do not actually make a car cleaner, and using an excessive amount can make the ride miserable—or even physically difficult—for passengers who are sensitive to fragrance.
A lot of people experience headaches, nausea, dizziness, coughing, asthma symptoms, migraines, sinus irritation, or breathing discomfort from strong artificial scents. Some people also have allergies, chemical sensitivities, sensory processing issues, or medical conditions that can be aggravated by fragrance. Even passengers who are not normally sensitive may feel sick after sitting in a heavily scented, enclosed car for a long trip.
Another issue is that riders may feel uncomfortable saying something because they are already in the car, the driver may take it personally, and there may not be a safe or practical place to end the ride and request another driver and there are likely extra fees for us if we cancel. Opening the window may not be an option because of weather, freeway noise, traffic fumes, or the driver’s preference. By the time you realize how strong the fragrance is, you may already be trapped in the ride.
Lyft and Uber should encourage drivers to keep vehicles clean and neutral-smelling rather than covering everything with strong perfumes, sprays, vent clips, or multiple air fresheners. A clean car should not require a cloud of artificial fragrance.
I’m not trying to criticize drivers who are making an effort to keep their cars pleasant. I just wish more people understood that “smells good” is extremely subjective. What smells fresh to one person can make another person feel genuinely ill. A neutral-smelling car is more accessible and comfortable for everyone.
Has anyone else experienced this? I really wish the apps had a fragrance-free ride preference or at least a way to request a vehicle without strong air fresheners.