Cabin filter Fram or Wix

I use wix from oreillys in all my hyundais....never had any isssues

For cabin filter, I personally recommend using a filter with a carbon layer to reduce smells. Fram, TYC, Hengst, Mann, and Wix all are good options.

The Genesis OE filter is $75!! The Fram Fresh Breeze filter is $25 or less; it combines activated charcoal with baking soda to reduce HVAC odor. I've used them in all my vehicles since Fram introduced the Fresh Breeze filter line and found them remarkably effective.

I did the air box filter and cabin filter myself (Fram stuff).

When I replaced my own I typically used Fram Fresh Breeze air filters with carbon. It made my car smell good more than anything.

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

I ordered the WIX 24419 Cabin Air Filter.

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)

You don't need to buy OEM - *especially* for a cabin air filter - but you could save some money by finding a good source of Bosch or Wix filters. Never Fram, ever.