Nissan has devoted odor engineers to work on new-car smell

Imagine yourself going to work every day and sniffing out car parts.

The odors from cabin materials, adhesives and plastics combine to create a new car smell. Peter Karl Eastland, Nissan’s lead engineer for odour assessment at its European technical center, is responsible for making this smell as pleasant as possible. His trained nose and he work together to create the perfect fragrance for vehicles.

Eastland smells every material in the cabin, from the leather upholstery to its steering wheel. Eastland has a sharp nose that can identify the smells. Eastland has a master’s in Chemistry and Forensic Science, which he earned from Leicester University in the UK. It’s not as easy as smelling a few car parts. Because the aroma of a car can vary depending on temperature and time it is important that Eastland evaluates materials under multiple conditions.

Nissan has devoted odor engineers to work on new-car smell

“Keeping the customer in the centre of our attention is a key part of my job when assessing a material. Eastland stated that potential odours should be considered when evaluating the effectiveness of any new or modified design. Eastland is not the only one. Nissan employs engineers from Japan and the United States with similar jobs who do similar tasks for vehicles in development. Eastland believes his job is more important than ever as vehicles become quieter. As the vehicle’s noise levels drop, so do the senses of occupants, who are more attentive to details like its smell.

Nissan has devoted odor engineers to work on new-car smell

There are regulatory issues that must address. Some materials may contain volatile organic compounds, which can cause allergic reactions in the occupants. To minimize allergic reactions, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (China), Japan and Russia have developed guidelines for vehicle cabin air quality.