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
Comments & Reviews
Laura says
The milky white color is probably from polysorbate 20. It’s an emulsifier to keep the water and oil from separating. I am just assuming it is in the ingrediants.
Brooksie says
This is great! I am always so embarrassed when I have to go #2 anywhere but at my home..this should help a lot!
Jenn Copeland says
I found your blog on Pinterest. I have NEVER left a comment on a blog when I’m happily pinning away, but I just wanted to tell how your crazy, silly, hysterical puns and poopisms made me crack up! Thanks for the amazing diy (which I am making ASAP!) and for the great belly busting laugh! I will be back!
Katie says
I would add a bit of Dr. Bronner’s pure Castile soap (always gives wAter that milky white color just like the original spray).
Angela says
I was going to suggest that. It seems to work too.
lizzette carta says
Wonderful ! I did it and I’m impressed with the results. I used a plastic bottle… thank you
Amy says
I discovered the poo-potpourri spray while on a houseboat vacation this year. Needless to say everyone used it and everyone was equally grateful! I loved it and now that I found this, I will definitely make my own. Thank you so much!
Stephanie says
I love this stuff! My favorite scent is now $19.95 for a 2 oz. bottle – ouch! I’ll be making my own as soon as I get some essential oils. Any suggestions on duplicating the scent that is reminiscent of the original coppertone suntan lotion? Thanks!
By the way, I always pack this stuff on vacation – sharing a single hotel bathroom with a friend while traveling is no longer embarrassing or awkward!
Kathy says
Stephanie, I found a great Coppertone duplicate at justscent.com
kim says
can tea tree oil be used with peppermint oil?
Happy.MoneySaver says
Yep!
Clareo says
I use rose water for a few things in my skin/hair care so thought why not use that instead of regular water? I already buy it in bulk so it’s not a huge extra cost (only $6 per 600ml) so mixed it with lavender oil and it’s a great combo!
Happy.MoneySaver says
Great idea!
wilson mar says
Thank you for sharing this. But as I remind my wife (who’s your conceptual twin, with chickens and all) your time is worth money too.
Amanda says
True, but this would be so quick that, unless your job makes major bucks, it’s totally worth your time to DIY rather than buy the brand name.
Cheryl says
Love this! Thank you!
One if Poo-Pourri’s slogans is
“Just one spray before you go.
And no one else will ever know. “
Lana says
I bought a 1 ounce bottle of “Atomic Fart Remover” that was a DIY product from a local in East TX, when we passed through there. It says eucalyptus and spearmint on her sweet label and I love the smell!
I bought it as a gag gift, I really thought it was a joke, lol
I was amazed that it worked
I started trying to make my own concoction that was never as effective, now after reading your post, I realize I was using enough oil. Thank you
I buy oils on the candle aisle in Walmart and I also buy travel spray bottles from Walmart’s toiletry dept.
Thanks again
CraftingMom says
I don’t use that much essential oil because I add sweet almond oil or you could add a bit of JoJoba or corn oil to help create the oil barrier slick that seals in the odors.
Angela says
I don’t usually use this kind of language but this was too funny!
Give 2 or 3 Spritz
Before you have a Sit
And you won’t smell the Sh*t!
Viv says
So happy to try this! Thank you!
Just took delivery of my dark glass spray bottles this morning and have made a mixture of Bergamot and Ylang Ylang. Can’t wait for the first guinea pig to test it out! LOL
P.S.Rubbing alcohol is better known in the UK as Isopropyl Alcohol or IPA.
Eileen says
What brand of essential oils did you use?
Karrie says
I use DoTerra. Here is a link to where I talk all about it and how much I love using the oils. https://happymoneysaver.com/love-affair-doterra-essential-oils/
ashley says
Hello I’m gonna try and make this.. hope it works lol… hubby don’t think it will.. anyways I am gonna try vanilla and cinnamon do u think that will be good mix
Lynne says
I bought the oils from Walmart – will these work?
Happy.MoneySaver says
I know you can buy essential oils from different stores. If they are essential oils they should work! 🙂
Shannon says
Just know that the oils from Walmart are adulterated essential oils. Dr. Pappas, a chemist who tests the purity of essential oils from Essential Oil University, tested Walmart oils and found them to NOT be 100% pure. Probably doesn’t matter for something like this, but just thought you should know. You can check out the report on his FB page Essential Oil University.
Jane says
Hi Karrie!
This is just a great idea! I tried it exactly how you described and it worked wonderfully! I used tea tree oil and lavender oil in mine and it smells wonderful!
I wanted to pass on my own tip for you and your followers: I put some of the spray in a very small spray bottle I got in the travel section of the drug store and keep it at my desk at work for when nature calls at the office! It’s pocket sized, very discreet, and works like magic! Because nothing is worse than trying to avoid eye contact with a coworker at the sink!
Thanks for the great recipe!
Monica says
Can you use home fragrance oils?
Lein says
Can’t wait to try out this recipe. I’m in the UK and the guy in the hardware store told me methylated spirits is the same thing as rubbing alcohol but I’m not sure that it is. Would it be ok to substitute it?
Happy.MoneySaver says
I am not 100% sure but from my research it is close. Give it a try!
Susan says
Can I use 90% alcohol as I can’t find 70% where I live..
Viv says
It’s not the same. Rubbing alcohol is another name for Isopropyl Alcohol or IPA. Hope this helps.
Marti Smith says
It’s also called ‘surgical spirit’ in the UK. Ask for it in Boots, they usually have it behind the counter.
gabi says
What makes the original Poo Pourri that white color, that when you spray in toilet it floats down and looks like milky white cloudy water.. Which is not bad… just saying that what ever is in the original Poo Pourri, it is always a bright white color to it and doesn’t seem oily… Also NEVER, clogs the spray bottles.. Any idea what causes the nice looking White creamy color of the original??
tjdj says
I just mixed some up using Eucalyptus and Lavendar Essential Oils and it turned white in color. Not sure which one did it because I didn’t notice it until I added the water. Smells good and I’m hoping it works – if so, I’ll be taking it on our cruise in January!!
linda says
The original also contains a surfactant (soap/detergent) that emulsifies fat/oil, and absorbs odors such as sulphur. Also keeps the bottle from clogging and the bowl from getting an oily ring-around-the-bowl, and keep the plumbing pipes clean. Large sewage treatment plants use surfactants in their processing. Some surfactants are environmentally-toxic, some not. My guess is a little detergent .would work. Pick one that doesn’t foam up too much. You can low-foam shampoos and body gels at any health food store.
DeDe says
1 tsp. vegetable glycerin.
Gail Sprague says
Wouldn’t adding soap break down the oil and defeat the product doing it’s job. The oil floating on the top creates a barrier that keeps the smell trapped under the water. If you break down the oil, it no longer works.
James says
Hi Yunni,
Did you manage to get the right ingrediants i.e. mixing oil and water together without breaking down the oil?I also faced the same problem when adding soap. Not sure if the amount of soap matters? anyway, if you have worked it out please kindly share! thank you.
Alexis says
I made several of these tonight, it looks like there is still some separation of the oil and water even with the addition of the alcohol by the color that seems to settle on the top. Has anyone else had this problem?
Lynn Zormeier says
Yes, mine still separates. I even tried adding twice as much rubbing alcohol. Frustrating. So I added “Shake” as the first step on my label.