Difference between active carbon filter and plain filter?

[KungFuPanda]

Is there any appreciable difference between the grey type of active carbon filters and the regular white paper cabin filters apart from price?

[V8RX7]

The active carbon bit

[simonre7]

Put simply, active carbon removes smells from air (dependant on dwell times) whereas normal filters just remove particulates from the air

[KungFuPanda]

After having a stinky Alfa 147, I think I'll go for an active carbon one.

[BigBo]

TIL