Taxi smells: air fresheners, odours and how a taxi should smell

A taxi should smell clean and of very little else. The smell in a taxi is the first thing passengers notice when they open the door and it shapes how they experience the rest of the journey: a mild air freshener or none at all, a well-ventilated interior and no smell of tobacco or food convey care; a strong perfume, on the other hand, can make people feel sick or bother those with allergies. In taxis, as on public transport in general, smoking is banned.

Smell is the sense most closely linked to memory: a scent can take us back to a place or a moment in an instant. Walking into a classroom is enough to bring back your childhood school. That is why brands take care over how their shops and offices smell; in marketing people talk about an odotype, the scent that identifies a business just as its logo does. In a taxi the effect is immediate: passengers link the smell with how clean the car is and, by extension, with how professional the driver is.

The best air freshener is a clean car. Before thinking about scents, it is worth taking care of what causes odours:

• Regular cleaning of the upholstery, mats and boot, where smells from luggage, rain or pets build up.
• Cabin filter and air conditioning in good condition: a clogged filter leaves a musty smell every time the air is switched on.
• Air the car between fares, especially after a long journey or one with several passengers.
• No tobacco, not even inside the car during breaks: the smell clings to the upholstery.
• Eat outside the vehicle.
• Air freshener in minimal doses, and if a passenger asks, open a window or remove it without fuss.

A discreet smell is one of those details that form part of the habits we suggest in how to become a top-notch taxi driver, alongside smooth driving and courtesy.

You have the right to travel comfortably. If the smell in the car bothers you or makes you feel sick, politely ask for some air or for the window to be lowered; a good professional will understand. If you have allergies or are particularly sensitive to smells, you can mention it in the comments when you book your airport taxi. And if you tend to get car sick, looking straight ahead, avoiding your phone and asking for some fresh air usually helps on long journeys.

Smell is just one of the factors that make a journey comfortable. We look at others, such as temperature, space or silence, in passenger comfort and in the comforts on board a taxi that go unnoticed.

For your journeys to Barajas, we work with official taxis and a fixed fare by area: €33 from inside the M-30 and the rest in our fares.