Cabin filter Fram or OEM Volkswagen

If you still have the car, or run into this issue again, YES, the baking soda cabin air filter works. IMO Fram makes the best ones. I had almost your identical problem. As soon as the filter dies, the cigarette and perfume odors spew from the vents. I also did the ozone and vinegar treatments. I also had no luck with the carbon filters. The only thing that worked for me is the Fram baking soda cabin filter.

fram cabin air filter. been using them forever on all my cars. and also their engine air filter.

Just get a multi layered, charcoal infused filter for cleaner air inside the cabin. Fram makes a good example and it's available at all Walmarts.

I bought a Fram/Arm & Hammer cabin filter from Walmart for about $20

I’d just get the standard FRAM, WIX, or so on if you wanted better airflow. If you don’t have bad allergies I’d just get regular since the benefit isn’t really noticeable otherwise, and then you get worse airflow.

FRAM TrueAir for me - smelled much fresher in the cabin for a little while, but nothing spectacular...

They changed something on the Arteon vs other VW models -- the procedure is the same, but those tabs just don't bend. I got it done, but it should not be that difficult.

Now, I just replaced the cabin filter on my (new to me) 2021 Kia Soul for the second time in 9 months and the new one which is a Fram, smells so musty and stale when it’s on recirculate, I might just replace it with another one to see if it makes a difference. It literally smells like stale moth balls. If I take the filter out and run it, smell goes away.

IMO, don't get the really thick ones with carbon (like Fram FreshBreeze) - they restrict airflow and can cause the resistor and motor to overheat (essentially it's like a clogged/dirty filter)

I replaced the cabin filter and it is still there.