A well-known staple in the Febreze line receives a design refresh.
With over a billion sold, the well-known and well-loved Febreze CAR remains a staple of the Febreze line-up, offering consumers an innovative and effective way to keep their cars smelling fresh. Nearly a decade after its launch, the P&G team began investigating opportunities to refresh the already successful air freshener and incorporate consumer feedback collected over the years. As an integral part of the product’s original design, the Design Central team was intrigued by the challenge.
Client
- Procter & Gamble
Industry
- Consumer
Capabilities
- Research
- Product Design
- Prototyping
Objective: Design a new and improved version of the Febreze CAR air freshener.
Incremental plastic reduction multiplies sustainability efforts.
The opportunity to redesign Febreze CAR opened the door to evaluating its sustainable impact, an important initiative for P&G and Design Central. Our teams explored ways to reduce plastic while maintaining the product’s durability and functionality. The new design showcases a shallower housing that uses 20% less plastic. In the context of millions sold yearly, that’s a substantial waste reduction and noteworthy cost savings for P&G.
Improved user satisfaction
Along with the sustainable benefit, the updated air freshener enhances fragrance visibility. Consumers now have a clearer indication of when a replacement is needed. This improvement gives users a greater understanding of the product’s lifespan and reduces potential confusion, improving overall satisfaction.
In addition, the standout feature of the refreshed product is the True Intensity Dial. Updated mechanisms now allow for greater customization of the scent strength, empowering consumers to adjust the intensity to their preference, thus enriching their overall experience. The dial was redesigned with distinct colors and shapes to draw attention to this improvement, highlighting the improved functionality.
Change fueled by research
Throughout the project’s duration, P&G and Design Central left no stone unturned when it came to global user insights and future market trends. Knowing the product would initially be released in both the U.S. and Japan, user testing was conducted in both regions, identifying key design preferences. Design Central also conducted extensive research into the future of car design aesthetics, seamlessly aligning the updated product with evolving automotive trends. By forecasting design directions, we have prepared the Febreze CAR to remain modern and compatible with diverse car interiors, extending its relevance and market longevity.