Little Trees are disposable air fresheners shaped like
a stylized evergreen tree, marketed for use in motor
vehicles, and most commonly seen hanging from rear-
view mirrors. They are made of an absorbent material
produced in a variety of colors and scents.

Little Trees were invented in 1952 in Watertown, New
York, by Julius Sämann, a German-Jewish chemist
and businessman who had fled Nazi Germany. 

He had studied Alpine tree aromas in the forests of
Canada and managed to combine excellent perfumes
with a specific material and to manufacture the first
automotive air freshener.

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Julius Sämann (1911 – 1999)