There’s a problem all motorists eventually have to deal with – body odor.

Not that body.

The car body, specifically the interior after the “new-car” scent disappears and the cabin starts to smell like a locker room, fast-food dining room, nursery – or a combination of all three.

Opening the windows helps, but what’s a person to do?

Air fresheners.

Of course, if consumers don’t dispose of old fries, burgers or diapers, how many are going to run down to the store and purchase an air freshener? Actually, an estimated 46 million folks purchase an air freshener each year, according to industry statistics.

“It’s an estimated $228 million business, quite a lot considering you can purchase one for $2 to $3,” says David Portalatin, an analyst with NPD Automotive Group, a marketing information firm that specializes in the automotive aftermarket.

Not surprisingly, one of the promoters of air fresheners is Houston-based Auto Expressions, which produces and sells about 400 fragrances – from those scented strips of paper that hang from the mirror to those plastic widgets inserted into air ducts to circulate scents throughout the car whenever the air conditioner or heater is on.

If folks are so concerned about pleasant smells, why not pizza or freshly brewed coffee, or, best yet, chocolate scent filling the car?

“Because we’ve never seen anyone who likes those scents in a car. Besides, they usually smell good for about 30 seconds, and then that’s it,” said Stuart Walman, business development manager of AutoExpressions.