A/C Freon Leak? (Based on Smell)

I'm not aware of an odor associated with refrigerant.

You can use sniffer machines (expensive!) or ultrasonic detectors (cheaper, but not always easy to use) to find leaks in progress. Once the pressure is flat, you'd have to recharge it with something. You can charge with UV-reactive dye added and then search with a blacklight. There are other techniques but those 3 cover a lot.

The leak can be in the evaporator, venting into the cabin. Usually it's something else.

 

Clean your car bro... If someone wants a broke down car in 10 different ways then make sure they never clean it. Likewise if someone wants the best most reliable car ever: clean it so often you know 10 different ways you can fix the tiniest most minor of problems.

 

Refrigerant doesn’t smell. If there was a leak, the system would be empty. A/C would not blow COLD or even turn the Compressor on. The only thing you smell is air being drawn in through the Cabin Air filter. It’s located behind the Lower glove box. It probably should be changed if you’ve never done it.

 

I have never smelled it, and I had an evaporator leak in my 4 runner. I discovered it when I put my halide detector by a vent with the AC running. Only place I could find a leak.

 

In my house the A/C repair guy broke the freon line and there was no smell. Safety issue due to displacement of air.