In all my 41 yrs, I have never owned a car that had such a distinctive "new car smell" and then, still retains it almost 2 years later! Must be in the leather........

 

It's definitely the leather and it's exquisite! I've sat in and owned many other cars with full leather but the later Porsches really are unique and smell great. It's one of the reasons I ordered full leather for the Spyder, when you open the door the smell alone is enough to to put a smile on your face.

 

The smell is glorious! If you want to retain that smell, use Zaino leather conditioner. They have mastered the Porsche leather smell, and the stuff is awesome for your hides. Keeps them supple, non greasy, and contains UV inhibitor. And did I mention the smell? 6+ years old and my car still smells like new Porsche leather.

 

I'm in my 6th year of ownership and it's still there. Sometimes the cosmoline aroma makes an appearance too, or it's a phantom smell in my head.

 

Funny. I was jst admiring the smell today, as I do every every day. I love it. Part of the love afair...

 

Yep, my 06' 997 still has the new leather smell. I don't use anything to clean it except a damp microfiber cloth.

 

Leather & oil.

 

I think it is unique to Carreras though, hence my "Carrerraroma" reference.
I can't speak for Boxsters or Caymans, but the Cayennes do not have that same smell. I owned a new 05' S for 3 years and my father has a new 10' S and it's different. Obviously different grade of leather.

 

Correct, Zaino Z10 is a great product.

 

I've sat in an 08 Boxster with full leather, 10 GT3 with full leather and my Spyder with full leather and they all smell the same. I also sat in an 12 Cayman R without full leather and it didn't have the same smell.

I know my 928 and most of the earlier cars up to about 1998 had a completely different smell which was also unique but I think the newer cars smell nicer! Not sure about the 996/986 Cayenne or Panamera.

 

I was in my friend's Panamera 4 and smell wasn't there either. It must be just in the coupes and not the SUVs or 4 doors.

 

Maybe your friend didn't have the full leather option in his P4? I don't see why the SUV's or 4 doors should be any different aroma wise. In fact, I have an '11 Cayenne S with full leather and it smells just as great as the full leather in my '09 Carrera S. Leather quality seems very similar to the touch and in appearance.

 

My '06 Cabriolet still has the "new leather" smell. Twice a year I will spray a little of this: http://www.preservation-solutions.co...roduct_id=1013
If you use it wear rubber gloves or when you walk into the office on Monday your hands will smell like new leather.

 

the seat vent plays a big role- the aroma comes from evaporation of the chemicals used in the tanning process. The vented seats allow what would normally be sequestered to be vented to the cabin. I have found on this vented seat car i have a much longer carreraroma than with previous purchases. I can sometimes put on the passenger when whe i need a hit of stronger smell!

 

that could be it! My previous Cayenne S didn't have vented, nor does my father's current S.