4043. Very Vanilla

It was 1952 in Watertown, New York, USA. A milk truck driver had enough of the smell of spilled milk and mentioned the problem to Julius “Jules” Sämann, a local chemist. As luck would have it, Jules had spent some time deep in the Canadian pine forests learning about aromatic oils that give evergreens their soothing, distinctive smell. Jules went to work on this all-too-common problem and – using exceptional fragrances on specialty material – soon developed the concept of a hanging air freshener. He also drew the abstract evergreen shape and gave it the brand name CAR-FRESHNER. Almost 60 years later, Jules’ unobtrusive and ecologically responsible invention is unmatched in quality, efficiency, longevity, convenience and value.

And so an American legend – and an answer for spilled milk – was born.

Jules believed in his idea and started producing the Royal Pine-scented air fresheners in an empty auto shop in Watertown. He sent samples to local gas stations and the air fresheners flew off the shelves. Soon, orders were rolling in from all over the country.

Throughout the 1950s and 60s, people realized that Jules’ air fresheners were an effective way to freshen homes, cars and offices, and the products continued to gain in popularity. Jules added other fragrances – and colors – to the line. Soon a distributor opened a European factory, and by the 1970s, the air fresheners were becoming increasingly popular around the world. Around this time Jules began calling his products the LITTLE TREES air fresheners in the United States to go with the MAGIC TREE, ARBRE MAGIQUE and WUNDER-BAUM names used in other countries.

In the 1980s, CAR-FRESHNER introduced Vanillaroma, a yellow Tree that would take over the “best selling fragrance” title from Royal Pine. The company was quickly becoming a fragrance powerhouse!

In the early 1990s, Jules handed the reins of his company to his son Ronald, a medical doctor. The two generations worked hand in hand until Jules’ death in 1999.

Jules lived to see his invention become a global symbol of freshness and quality, and an American icon. The LITTLE TREES air fresheners have appeared in countless Hollywood movies and TV shows. In fact, there is a special section on this website dedicated to reporting new sightings!

Today, CAR-FRESHNER Corporation is still a family-owned business and is still headquartered in Watertown, New York. Ronald's son Daniel joined the company as General Counsel to help steer the LITTLE TREES brand into the future. CAR-FRESHNER produces the LITTLE TREES air fresheners in its three factories in the United States: Watertown, New York; Berlin, New Hampshire; and DeWitt, Iowa. CAR-FRESHNER supplies most of the world with US-made Tree-shaped air fresheners. In Europe, however, most Trees come from official factories in Italy, Sweden and Switzerland.

Today, the LITTLE TREES air fresheners are available in over sixty fragrances, including new favorites like Black Ice and New Car Scent. CAR-FRESHNER also offers many other innovative types of air fresheners, from pump sprays to vent clips. We invite you to explore this website and our products.

4042. Silly Citrus

The LITTLE TREES air fresheners team is joining forces with the Arbor Day Foundation to encourage people to plant trees.

Just send in an order form and proof of purchase of six LITTLE TREES air fresheners and the Arbor Day Foundation will send you a free evergreen tree. There is no charge for shipping or handling. Order forms and complete details are on special evergreen tree promotion displays at your favorite retailer. In a hurry or can't find a display or order form at your favorite retailer?

The tree you get will be appropriate for the geographic area you live in. It could be one of several varieties of redwoods, pines, spruces and firs. The promotion is available only in the continental U.S.

The trees are mailed in 14-inch tubes made from 50 percent post-consumer recycled material. The tube can be converted into a bird feeder or recycled according to local regulations. Package labels feature instructions for handling and planting the trees and a photo of a mature tree of the same species. The labels are made from recycled paper and printed with soy ink.

If the timing isn't right for planting, these hardy evergreens can be stored in the refrigerator or grown for months indoors. For best results, trees should be planted as soon as possible.

For more information on the Arbor Day Foundation, visit www.arborday.org .

4041. Bubble Berry

The LITTLE TREE air freshener was invented in Watertown, New York, USA in 1952 by Julius Sämann, who had spent five cold years extracting pine needle oils in the Canadian wilderness. He came up with the shape, the name and the fragrance. After more than 50 years, we are very proud of the worldwide reputation we have gained for quality and value, and want to make sure you get exactly what you expect when you buy a product with our brand on it.