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Promotional air fresheners: the complete buying guide

Everything South African businesses need to know before ordering custom branded air fresheners: shapes, scents, artwork, lead times, honest scent expectations and the mistakes to avoid.

In this guide

What you will learn

The basics

What is a promotional air freshener?

A promotional air freshener is a scented hanging card, printed with your branding and handed to customers to hang in their car. Ours are screen printed in up to two colours on both sides of 480gsm South African board, scented, and heat sealed in individual packets.

They are designed as promotional handouts, not long life retail fresheners. The fragrance is strongest for the first few days and then fades. The value comes from the printed hanger: it sits at eye level in your customer’s car and many people keep it on the mirror long after the scent is gone.

Quick facts

Minimum order: 100 units
7 free standard shapes, or custom
Up to 2 colours, both sides
Value and Designer scent ranges
Individually heat sealed
Tracked delivery anywhere in SA

Step by step

How to order

Five steps from idea to a box of branded air fresheners on your desk.

Choose quantity and shape

Start at 100 units. Pick one of seven free shapes or a custom outline.

Pick a scent range

Value for bold, familiar scents. Designer for a subtler premium feel.

Send print ready artwork

High resolution PDF (300dpi+) or an editable vector file. We send a virtual mock up.

Pay and approve

Pay your invoice, then approve the sign off sheet before production starts.

Production and delivery

Job Update Reports during production, then tracked delivery with The Courier Guy.

Typical lead times, counted from payment and artwork approval: as little as 10 working days for 100 units in our precut standard shapes (subject to availability), and 15 working days for 1,000+ units, often faster outside peak season.

Shapes and sizes

Seven free shapes compared

All seven standard shapes are free. Die lines for each can be downloaded from our products page.

Shape	Size	Best for
Circle 70mm	70 x 70mm	Tyre centres, bold logos, round brand marks
Circle 60mm	60 x 60mm	Car washes and large handout volumes
Credit Card	80 x 55mm	Service workshops, insurers, banks, QR codes
Car	70 x 55mm	Dealerships and panel beaters
House	90 x 70mm	Estate agents and property brands
Taxi Bus	90 x 60mm	Transport operators and taxi associations
Truck	80 x 50mm	Fleets, logistics and vehicle body builders

Scents

Value vs Designer scents

Same print quality and packaging. The difference is the fragrance.

	Value range	Designer range
Scents	New Car, Eau de Cologne, Creamy Vanilla	Inspired by Drakkar Noir, Sauvage, Hugo Boss
Character	Bold, fresh and instantly noticeable	Subtler and more refined
Best for	Large handouts, events, car washes	Premium brands, dealerships, client gifts
Price	Our most affordable option	Our premium option
Scent life	A few days	A few days, and more subtle

Designer range fragrances are our own blends inspired by the scents named. Drakkar Noir, Sauvage and Hugo Boss are trademarks of their respective owners. Arrero Car Air Fresheners has no association with these brands, and our products are not the original fragrances.

Before you send artwork

Artwork checklist

Screen printing gives crisp, bold results when the artwork is right. Tick these off and your mock up will come back right first time.

High resolution PDF (300dpi or higher) or an editable vector file (CorelDRAW, Illustrator, Photoshop or InDesign)
Maximum 2 colours. White counts as a colour
No white background, and allow for light colours shifting slightly
Keep text and key elements 5 to 7mm from the edges
Keep the 4mm punch hole area clear
Text at least 9pt, including phone numbers
Bold or medium line weights only, no fine lines

Comparison

Air fresheners vs other promo items

How a branded air freshener compares to other common low cost promotional items.

Item	Where it ends up	How often it is seen	Typical life
Branded air freshener	Hanging in the car at eye level	Every drive	Scent lasts a few days; the hanger is often kept for weeks or months
Business card	Wallet, drawer or bin	Rarely	Often lost or thrown away
Flyer	In hand, then the bin	Once	Usually discarded the same day
Branded pen	Desk or bag	Occasionally	Until it runs out or goes missing
Keyring	On the keys	Daily	Long, but the logo is small

Mistakes to avoid

Five mistakes we see often

Sending a logo from a website

Low resolution files cannot be screen printed properly. Send a vector or 300dpi PDF.

Expecting weeks of scent

The fragrance lasts a few days. Plan them as a branded handout, not a long life freshener.

Too many colours

Screen printing is limited to two colours, with white counting as one.

Storing them in the heat

Keep stock sealed in a cool, dry place and use it within 3 to 4 months.

Ordering too late

Allow 10 to 15 working days from payment and approval, plus courier time.

FAQ

Questions we get asked

What is the minimum order for promotional air fresheners?

100 units.

Can I see my design before I pay?

Yes. Send print ready artwork and we will email you a virtual mock up before you commit.

How long does the scent last?

Only a few days. They are made as promotional handouts. Many customers keep the hanger up and refresh it with car cologne.

How long does production take?

As little as 10 working days for 100 units in standard shapes (subject to availability), and 15 working days for 1,000+ units, from payment and artwork approval.

Do you ship nationwide?

Yes. We ship anywhere in South Africa with The Courier Guy, with a tracking number.

Are they suitable for resale?

No. They are made as promotional handouts, not retail products for resale.

Keep reading

Ready to order your air fresheners?

Send us your logo and quantity and we will send a quote and a virtual mock up.