Today we’re making our very own poo pourri recipe from scratch…. because everyone poops! Or so says the classic children’s book. And because we’re talking about bodily fluids (solids), I’m really feeling a need for my inner 9-year-old scouting self to let the potty jokes fly. That’s what happens when you’re the local Cub Scout Bear leader, I guess. Join with me, this is a safe place.
Every old wench has her own special stench.
We all stink up the loo with our own distinct…
Poo Spray. The most craptastic stuff you’ve ever had the displeasure of needing.
I’ll spare you the rest because it only goes downhill from here.
So, this year for Christmas I bought my husband his own little bottle of poo pourri fragrance spray for the bathroom. He opened it and laughed and I laughed and then it got all awkward and he was like, “What an awesome gag gift!” and I sort of stopped laughing and was like, “Gag gift, nothin’! This is real. REAL!! My years of suffering have finally come to an end!!”
And then it had a permanent place of honor in our bathroom. Anyway, after experiencing this little magic in a bottle I can safely say he’s a fan too.
Poo Pourri Ingredients
After I, ahem, put it to use, I thought I recognized a certain favorite smell: essential oils!! After researching it further, I discovered the poo pourri ingredients are basically comprised of essential oils, alcohol, and water all gussied up in some pretty brilliant packaging. Translation: perfect for an easy DIY’er project.
These poo pourri ingredients work because the essential oils create a physical barrier, trapping the stinky smells below. Basically, you could have a chili cheese dawg blowout nightmare in the bathroom and no one would ever know. EVER. Is that incredible or what? Where was this during my dorm days?
So, I got to work in the lab, errr.. kitchen and came up with a perfect copycat clone.
I’ve had family members try both products (original and homemade) in a double-blind test and the results clearly indicate the DIY is just as effective as the original. In other words, we use them interchangeably and they both work great.
I am a huge fan of DoTerra pure essential oils in all my DIY projects and for health too. The oils they use for the poo pourri ingredients are bergamot essential oil, lemongrass essential oil and orange essential oils. However, I have used all kinds of oil combinations such as lemongrass and peppermint, or lavender and orange. During the holidays I even use a pine smell. If you are interested in buying some of these pure essential oils you can order some here from me.
So, the cost breakdown.
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DIY Poo Pourri recipe vs Original Price Comparison
The original big brand costs $9.95 for a 2 oz. container. And that’s not including shipping. That’s $4.98 per ounce.
Our homemade poo pourri recipe version costs the following:
- rubbing alcohol: $.02 (At $2.29 per 16 oz bottle)
- 30-40 drops my favorite brand of essential oils: around $.50 depending on oils used
- Water: Free. Sure, I pay my water bill every month, but it’s a set amount so my bill would be the same whether I make this spray or not.
Total Cost: About $.52 for a 3 oz bottle. Or $.17 per ounce.
You guys. That’s more than a 96% savings!!!!!! And we didn’t even include shipping! Surely if that isn’t the definition of a Happy Money Saver moment, I don’t know what is.
I think this would be the perfect something to leave in a guest bathroom. Isn’t it the worst to have the #2’s hit while you’re at someone else’s home? This is right up there on the essential hosting needs list. Your guests will thank you. And maybe you’ll thank your guests when they put it your poo pourri recipe to use. Win-Win!
DIY Poo Fragrance Spray for the Bathroom
Instructions
- Pour rubbing alcohol in a 3 oz spray container and add essential oils. Add water to fill the container. Give it a good shake and you’re ready to go! I’ve found 3-4 sprays is enough to cover the bowl and trap all of the stink particles below.
- Add water to fill the container.
- Give it a good shake and it's ready for use.
TO USE
- Before you go poo in the toilet, spray on top of the water 3-4 sprays which will create a film, trapping the poo smells after you go. Then do your business and flush.
Let me know your favorite oil combinations—I think it would be fun to create different smells for each season. Summery citrus, woodsy fall, and cinnamon spice for winter. The combinations are endless!
Here are some other great recipes to create yourself for the bathroom:
DIY Toilet Cleaning Bombs
Homemade Countertop Cleansing Spray
DIY Swiffer Wet Pads
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Lesli says
Works great..I used lavender lemon and bergamot. The original poopourri has glycerin in it but this works just as well without it..just shake it up good..
Mark says
Thanks for posting this.
Is it possible you miscalculated the cost per ounce (at $0.17)? A common price for the essential oils you link to is about $30 for 15 ml. Most sites estimate that 15 ml of essential oil yields 300 drops. That’s 10 cents per drop. So the 30-40 drops in your recipe would cost $3.00-$4.00.
Karrie says
This recipe was made almost 10 years ago, so the cost probably is up from then.
Lisa Pistorino says
Awsome idea. Thank you
Tammie says
So what makes the original poo pourri white?
Shirley Yeo says
I was wondering about that too! 🙂
Lesli says
Vegetable glycerin
Deborah says
I began using your recipe. It works perfectly and the money saved is a game changer.
Mr. Tally Mane says
Great recipe! It works very well! Just like another one of your commenters I scaled the recipe up 2.67x to refill an 8oz Poo Pourri bottle. I used half lavender and half cedar essential oils (~55 drops of each), and rounded the alcohol up from 2.67 tsp to 3 tsp. I then topped it off with distilled water I happened to already have. Perfection. Thanks for sharing!
Happy-Money-Saver says
Thanks! That is helpful!
Tarron says
I just tried this using a combination of lemongrass, orange, eucalyptus and a drop of thieves and it worked amazingly well! I used my old poo-pouri container so it still had that brand name vibe. I’m sure no one would even be able to tell the difference! Thanks so much!!
Happy-Money-Saver says
Ooh that sounds like a great combo!
Carol says
I was wondering if a similar recipe using lavender essential oil would work as a pillow mist spray?
Happy-Money-Saver says
You know, I haven’t tried it but I don’t see why not. I would probably test it on the fabric so that it doesn’t stain it.
KRISTIN CHESSER says
You actually can substitute the rubbing alcohol with witch hazel to make a wonderful pillow/room spray.
goodolboy says
I meant to add this:
If you don’t have alcohol on hand, you could alternately use witch hazel and less water in the mix as witch hazel is about 85% water and only 15% alcohol by volume. ANY alcohol and water mix will homogenize those 2 ingredients and when shaken, will create a suspension with any oil being used, so the alcohol and water proportions aren’t critical.
goodolboy says
This is a great, money-saving idea, no butts about it.
Happy-Money-Saver says
LOL!!!
Tina. S says
Would love too try these DIY ideas! I live in an old farmhouse on many acres so we do have a septic system. Are these ingredients safe for the bacterias and natural organisms in the ground and tank, which are imperative to the smooth natural operation and health of the system? Please any suggestions for a variation of ingredients if they are not safe.
A says
To be on the safe side, I’d just spritz it in the room rather than in the toilet. I’ve found it works when my husband forgets to use it the intended way.
Adru Ko says
Such a great idea, thank you for sharing!😍
is it possible to use ethyl alcohol 70 % / (Spiritus Aethylicus)??
Kat says
Your recipe calls for rubbing alcohol but when looking at the Poo Pourri website their formula doesn’t contain alcohol. I’ve seen other recipes that contain vegetable gylcerin. This is the ingredient that forms the layer on the top of the water to keep all the offensive odors below the surface.
I will sub out the alcohol for the vegetable glycerin.
Kimberly Hilton-Lawson Lawson says
I’m glad i found this blog… can witch hazel be used instead?
Annita says
I also put vegetable glycerin in mine
Lenee says
I see the big brand blowing up but hard to find in the stores (never know what section to look either). But I figured it was essential oils but the alcohol iswhat I was missing– now that Dollar Tree sells everything its cheap to make these days. In the meantime I’m going to reuse my Aldi dupe bottle ($3.99 – VA area) when it’s less full I can just refill it.
Desiree Yanik says
instead of rubbing alcohol, could I substitute hand
sanitizer?
Karrie says
Hi Desiree, no that wouldn’t be a good idea. Hand sanitizer is too thick and would get stuck in the sprayer.
Ed says
Yes, why not, it’s at least 62% alcohol. When diluted with water the thickening agents will be such a minor part of the whole liquid that it shouldn’t matter.
And why not make our own hand sanitizer with rubbing alcohol, which has 70% vs 62% and 1 drop off essential oil? Perfect!
This post of making your own poo pouri—BRILLIANT!! I came across this after being discouraged seeing small bottles for $10 ($9.99+shipping) or medium bottles for $15 (same terms)
Thank You!!
Ginger says
Just curious what the alcohol does in this? I mean, can it be made without the alcohol or is that a critical ingredient? I want to make some!
PS….DoTerra really is amazing oils!!
Karrie says
It’s important as the alcohol works as a stabilizer, helping to turn the mix into it’s milky-white consistency much like the original pou pourri.
Ed says
Necessary, as it helps dissolve and hold the oil in solution in the bottle. You’d still need to shake though. Maybe even a drop of dish detergent too.