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I think most people who’ve tried Poo Pourri spray either:
- Bought it as a gag gift (but had to try it out first).
- Received it as a gag gift (and never thought they’d actually use it).
I am probably one of the few who bought this poop spray for myself because I actually looked forward to using it at home and when traveling.
Seriously. I can’t stand the smell after using aerosol air fresheners in the bathroom. And I’m not crazy about that light, sticky film that lingers on everything in the room after spraying aerosols into the air either.
In case you don’t already know… what makes the Poo Pourri spray different than most bathroom air fresheners is the fact that you spray it directly into the toilet bowl before you go, rather than spraying it into the air, after the fact.
Here’s how it works:
I knew that the inventor of Poo Pourri toilet spray was onto something when she created this one-of-a-kind bathroom deodorizer. And I was even more impressed when I learned about the Poo Pourri ingredients. It’s primarily made from all-natural 100% pure Essential Oils!
Here’s the story behind Poo Pourri toilet spray:
Now, here’s where it gets fun…
Starting with the Poo Pourri scents included in the original spray bottles, you can now make your own poop spray that works (and smells) very similar!
Following are some tips for finding the DIY Poo Pourri recipe you like best.
Good To Know Before Trying Homemade Poo Pourri Recipes…
- Use distilled water (or bottled water) as the base of your Poo Pourri recipe for best results. Of course, tap water works too, but it contains other minerals that could ever-so-slightly affect your recipe. Fortunately, distilled water is budget-friendly… a gallon jug is just 99 cents at most grocery stores.
- Use rubbing alcohol (or witch hazel or vodka) as a stabilizer. It turns the liquid into a white, milky substance — much like the original Poo Pourri spray. It also helps the water and oils mix better, although you still need to shake before each use.
- For the best results, use 100% natural Essential Oils, rather than synthetic blends that are made in a lab. Even some of the “popular” Essential Oil brands create oils that are NOT 100% pure and natural. (Here’s a list of my favorite Essential Oil companies that sell 100% legit Essential Oils.)

- The exact number of drops and which Essential Oils you use is completely up to you. Each variable you change will change the scent and its strength to some degree. Experiment and find the combination you like best. Below I share my favorites, plus some popular scent combinations from the original Poo Pourri scents.
- In addition to Essential Oils, the original Poo Pourri toilet spray also has a little bit of low-foaming detergent in it. According to Linda: “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.” Pure Castile Soap may have the same effect. NOTE: I plan to experiment further by adding vegetable glycerine or Dr. Bonners pure castile soap to see if the water and oils will mix even better and create an even stronger “oil barrier” in the toilet bowl than the rubbing alcohol alone does.
- If you want to be able to see the oil barrier of protection in the toilet bowl itself, you can add a few drops of blue food coloring to your DIY Poo Pourri recipe.

- Ideally, you should store your homemade Poo Pourri spray in a small glass spray bottles — because Essential Oils break down and become less effective when exposed to light. However, I’ll be honest, I’m using small plastic spray bottles (like the original Poo Pouri comes in). I like the ones with a trigger sprayer best because they hang nicely on the side of the toilet paper holder that I have on the back of each toilet in our home.

- One great idea — especially when traveling — is to fill a small, refillable atomizer with Poo Pourri spray. (These bottles are intended for perfume, but they’ll actually work with any liquid!) I’ve done this with both the homemade version and the original Poo Pourri. It just needs to be in some sort of spray bottle first — because that’s how a refillable atomizer works. You take the push-top off the spray bottle, place the atomizer on top of the bare tube, and pump. The spray magically transfers from the larger spray bottle into the smaller atomizer bottle! I got the idea to do this after receiving the small spray bottle of Poo Pouri seen here as a “bonus” item when I purchased several bottles of it on QVC.

- Instead of making a homemade poo spray, you could make toilet drops instead — similar to many of the Poo Pourri knock-offs. Just store your Poo Pourri recipe inside a small eyedropper bottle. Then shake well and place a few drops (instead of a few sprays) into the toilet bowl before you go each time. Small dropper bottles may be easier to store, and definitely easier to travel with! You could even reuse old eye drops bottles to hold your homemade Poo Pourri recipe. I reuse small glass dropper bottles that I’ve saved from old eye serums and Essential Oils I’ve purchased through the years.
- Truthfully, you could combine any oil with water in a bottle, mix well, and spray into the toilet bowl before you go for the same effect — because it’s the film of oil covering the surface of the water that prevents odors from escaping the bowl. The end result would be no scent at all. Keep in mind, different types of oil (Almond oil, Mineral oil, Essential oil, Cooking oil, etc.) would work differently, based on their density and how many drops you use.

- Making your own bathroom spray can save a significant amount of money: about 20 cents an ounce -vs- $5.00 an ounce!
My Favorite Original Poo Pourri Scents
These are the original Poo Pouri sprays that I’ve purchased myself, and I like best:
- Bergamot + Lemongrass + Grapefruit (called Original Citrus)
- Spearmint + Eucalyptus (called Royal Flush)
- Lavender + Vanilla
My Favorite DIY PooPourri Recipes
These are the homemade Poo Pourri recipes that I’ve made myself, and like best:
- Sandalwood + Lemon + Lavender
- Eucalyptus + Peppermint + Lavender
- Peppermint + Lemon
- Bergamot + Lemongrass + Grapefruit
How To Make Your Own Poo Pourri Recipe
- Find a clean 2 oz (or 4 oz) spray bottle.
- Combine 10 (or 20) drops of Essential Oils and 1 (or 2) tablespoons of Rubbing Alcohol in a small spray bottle first.
- Shake to mix thoroughly.
- Next, add water to the spray bottle, enough to almost reach the rim.
- Shake extremely well — until you’re confident that all of the different liquids are dispersed evenly throughout.
DIY Spray Instructions For Your Guests
Since most people are only familiar with a bathroom deodorizer that you spray into the air, it’s important to have some instructions nearby informing your guests how to use the Poo Pourri spray.
Some DIYers make cute little labels for their bottles of homemade Poo Pouri spray. Others make a DIY 5×7 sign, frame it, and leave it in the bathroom spelling out the instructions.
For now, I’m just using a Sharpie marker to write on a piece of blue painter’s tape and stick it onto the bottle itself. It’s not “cute,” but it works. I’m currently on the hunt for a fun frame to hang in each bathroom with the instructions.
This is the wording used on the original Poo Pourri bottle:
Spritz the bowl before you go and no one else will ever know!
This is the wording I use on my DIY Poo Pouri bottles:
Shake well. Lift lid. 5 sprays before you go!
Reasons To Buy The Original Poo Pourri Spray
While I’m now making my own DIY poop spray at home and refilling the small bottles in my bathroom each time, I still recommend (and do) purchase the original Poo Pourri sprays on occasion.
The reasons:
- No matter how close you get to the original recipe, nothing works as well and smells as great as the original Poo Pourri toilet spray.
- Essential Oils can be expensive to keep repurchasing. For me, aromatherapy and mixing Essential Oils is kind of a hobby, so I always have a number of Essential Oils on hand. But if you don’t use Essentials Oils a lot, it may seem like a chore to keep them on hand (and stored in a dark, cool area of the house at all times).
- The original Poo Pouri spray makes a nice gift for a traveler… and will always be a fun gag gift at a party. For gifting purposes, you can’t beat the original packaging and labeling that comes with it! Homemade versions are good enough for your own home, but when giving it as a gift, I stick with the original every time.
- Any time I find it on sale (which is rare), I grab it! Three of the best places to look: Amazon, QVC, and Bed, Bath & Beyond (especially when you use their 20% off coupon).
And for my guest bathroom, I even bought one of these dark colored stainless steel toilet paper shelves to hold the Poo Pourri bottle:
A friend of mine has this toilet paper holder shelf in her bathroom and it looks really great because it’s “rustic”.
In case you’re wondering, here’s what it says on the original bottle of Poo Pourri Before You Go Toilet Spray:
This Before-you-go blend of Natural Essential Oils creates a barrier to embarrassing bathroom odor.
Shake well. Lift toilet lid & seat. Spray directly onto the surface water (4-6 sprays). Proceed to use as usual.
Made in the USA. Never tested on animals. Biodegradable. No Parabens or Phthalates.
Here’s a fun FAQ from the folks at Poo Pourri!
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I like to help people find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” Household Tips and Life Hacks that most wouldn’t think of. I’m super-organized. And I LOVE to clean! I even enjoy doing laundry (but not ironing). I’m also a lifelong dog owner — so I often share my favorite tips for living with dogs inside your home (like smart home design choices and dog-friendly cleaning & decorating ideas). Career-wise, I’ve been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). Prior to that, I worked in Higher Ed over 10 years before switching gears to pursue activities that I’m truly passionate about instead. For example, I’ve worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo — to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. When I’m not cleaning, organizing, decorating, or fixing something… you’ll find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I’ve personally written over 200 articles about cleaning, organization, DIY repairs, and household hacks on this site! A few have over 2M shares; many others have over 100K shares.
could Dawn be used as a surfactant? i believe it is nonionic…
Lori, I think you’re right. My only fear would be the amount of foaming that might occur. I’ve heard some discussion about using Jet Dry or a laundry detergent that’s specifically made for use in HE washing machines – because those are both low foaming.
i think that if you use just a few drops, there won’t be much foaming, if any. i say this because i use it as an emulsifier in a diy cleaning spray (that miraculously doubles as an instant fly/ant killer!) and there’s little to no foaming. the spray contains 1 part water, one part white vinegar, and several drops of tea tree and lavender essential oils.
To keep out the light, you could paint those plastic bottles, leaving a small line up the side clear to see the level by taping it off while painting.
Good idea!
When I made this .
How long can this bottle stay is in my closet without becoming poor and ineffective.
What is its expiration date ?
Thought I’d share my sign for Poo Pourri Spray. You are welcome to use it.
Thanks Sherlene. Looks great!
Sorry, I meant label!
I have a sign, also.
Did you ever test vegetable glycerine or Dr. Bonners pure castile soap?
Hi steveo – no. I made several bottles at once and haven’t used them up yet. So no, I haven’t tested any other additives yet. Hopefully, if others have tried them, they’ll let us know here…
wow i emailed Nature’s Garden of making this myself and they told me they do not sell the ingredients of this PooPourri of which they do sell..Essential Oils…idiots…
great for this..now i can make my own instead of paying 10.00 for the small bottle…i can;t believe how great this actually works too…bookmarking this page
Cool recipe, thanks! I love DIY 🙂 One thing, castille soap (which is in Dr. Bronners) will probably not be the best choice for something like this. A film builds up and it is hard to get rid of. Something about reacting with minerals in the water. Dr. Bronner has been banished from my bathtub lol. A few drops of something like Dawn dish detergent would work well as a surfactant. Don’t over-do it though. It doesn’t take much.
Ahhhh… great point, Sam. Thanks for sharing that tip!
Great point – that regular liquid hand soap probably works just as well as vegetable glycerine. Thanks for the tip!
Just saw this post & will try it. Wondering if just a little e-wax mixed (melted)with the water will keep the oils and water from separating.
Hi Rita – that sounds like a smart idea! If you try it, please let us know…
I made this the other day cause I love the original and ran out. My husband said it’s nothing like the original and doesn’t work at all. I followed your instructions exactly, using essential oils, distilled water, rubbing alcohol and even added a little dawn. Any suggestions. He said it smells like alcohol (again I used the amounts recommended) and that it doesn’t cover any smells.
Hi Christine – all I can say is that must be some serious poo smell! This recipe works great in our house – it has for years now. I keep a bottle of my homemade version in each of our bathrooms and we use it all the time – so do our houseguests. No complaints.
You said that you followed my instructions exactly, but then you “added a little dawn” – perhaps the dawn scent messes with the effectiveness? I have no idea, but it may be worth trying again without the dawn I guess. That, or you could add even more essential oil for a stronger scent. You cannot use too much EO.
In response to Christine and the use of Dawn… Lacey Linteris Young wrote this yesterday, but our comment system was down and it didn’t post properly:
“If you added Dawn to the recipe, it would push the essential oils to the sides of the toilet bowl, and therefore the surface of the water would NOT be sealed(covered in oil), rendering the spray ineffective.
*Dawn is meant to cut grease, but you WANT the oil to sit in top of the water.”
Hello, I am curious as to why just pure essential oils can’t be used? Why add water? And if any results for e-wax have been tested? Thanks, so far the original recipe works great.
Hi Steve, You certainly can use JUST essential oils and no water, but the water gives you more volume for your money — because you are only using “fractions of a drop of essential oil” with each spray when combined with water. Just my $.02. There may be a more technical reason though that I’m not aware of.
Using Dawn renders this nearly useless. I tried it and it was a failure. Dawn cuts through the oil and breaks the barrier. It totally defeated the purpose of the spray.
This is definitely not a good formulation. Actually, it’s not a formulation, just a DIY as posted. Oil and water do not mix, no matter how hard you shake. You need an emulsifier to achieve this. Also, any product that contains water must have a preservative and alcohol is not a broad spectrum preservative. The film that covers the water and traps the odor in is not the oils, just so you know. That’s a totally different ingredient. I’m a cosmetic formulator and I reversed formulated this product over 5 years ago and mine works just as good, if not better. This is a top seller and those who have compared to the name brand like mine best.