Nobody has ever put a car freshener on a wish list. That does not mean it is a bad gift. It means it belongs to a small category of things people love receiving but would never think to ask for themselves, somewhere between a really good candle and a nice bottle of olive oil.
Here is why it actually works as a gift. Everyone with a car has a car smell situation, whether they have thought about it or not, and almost nobody has upgraded past whatever came free with their last oil change or grabbed at a gas station in a hurry. It solves a problem the recipient did not know was solvable, which is a better gift dynamic than something they would have bought themselves anyway.
For the person who just got a new car: this is close to a perfect gift moment. New car smell fades within a month or two, and most new owners have not thought about what replaces it. A sample kit, all four scents, lets them find their favorite before committing, which feels more thoughtful than just picking one scent for them.
For the person whose car is always spotless: this is the detail they have not gotten to yet, because it is the one upgrade that is easy to overlook even when everything else about the car is dialed in. A single premium scent, ONE or SIX for something with more presence, is a strong pick here since this person already appreciates quality when they see it.
For the person who spends more time in their car than anywhere else: long commutes, road trips, rideshare driving. NINE is worth considering specifically here, since a calming scent does real work for someone who is in the car under stress or fatigue more often than most people.
For the detailer, car wash owner, or anyone in the automotive business in your life: this is where custom branding actually becomes a genuinely great gift idea, not just a product one, gifting the idea of a signature scent for their business rather than just a personal freshener.
The best part of gifting a car fragrance specifically is the built-in follow-up. A gift that lasts 2 to 4 weeks means the person is still thinking about you a few weeks later, every time they get in the car, which is more than most gifts manage.