A low-resistance hydrocarbon adsorber comprising a spiral-wound laminated structure for mounting into an entrance port of an engine air intake system to prevent hydrocarbon evaporations from reaching atmosphere. Preferably, the adsorber is formed as a cartridge and comprises a flexible polymeric sheet support to which a thin flexible sheet of activated carbon sheeting is laminated on a first support side. The support is provided on a second side with features, for example, ribs or bumps, extending above the surface. When the laminate is spirally wound, the spiral convolutions are spaced apart by the features. Preferably, the convolutions are spaced apart by a distance such that there is a high probability that hydrocarbons migrating out of a shut down engine will encounter the adsorber and thus be adsorbed before reaching the atmosphere. The windings may fill all or a portion of the open area of the intake port.