Ditch the plastic and learn how to make your own Poo Pourri with this easy DIY toilet spray recipe! This homemade version seriously couldn’t be easier & each bottle costs a fraction of the price of the real thing. You’ll never go back to the store-bought version!
If you love easy homemade cleaning products and DIY hacks, you’ll love my zero waste toilet cleaning powder! Check out my ebook Soak & Scour to start your own super simple ecofriendly cleaning routine.
When I first heard of Poo Pourri, I thought it was another unnecessary product we were being told we needed, but didn’t. We couldn’t possibly need a product to trap odors in the toilet. People had used toilets for a long time without such a product and how could this really be different from other bathroom sprays anyway?! Now, here I am writing a DIY toilet spray recipe!
How does DIY toilet spray work?
Basically, you shake the bottle to redistribute all the ingredients in the spray. Then, you spray directly onto the water in the toilet before using it as normal. The glycerin and alcohol in Poo Pourri create a barrier on top of the water to lock in unpleasant smells.
You can add essential oils to add a nice fresh smell, making it a perfect addition to a busy guest bathroom.
Why you should use this homemade Poo Pourri
My feelings changed after I shared a hotel room with a bunch of female family members for my sister’s wedding. My cousin gave us all a little travel bottle of the stuff.
Honestly, it was so nice to have a bit of scent privacy! It’s nice to use a little spray when 5 girls are sharing a space. It’s like a courtesy to others to leave the bathroom pleasant for the next person!
Now, I’ve been making this stuff for years and have a bottle in every bathroom. This DIY toilet spray is so simple to make and each batch costs very little.
Please know that we are not affiliated with Poo Pourri and haven’t somehow managed to snag their secret recipe. This is just a DIY toilet spray that covers undesirable odors. We certainly don’t claim to know their official recipe or fragrance combinations.
I’d purchased the real product a couple of times before. But, I always felt like I was spending too much money on a toilet spray! The bottles last quite a long time, but there had to be a better solution!
What’s the magical ingredient in Poo Pourri?
The bottles don’t have any ingredients! I wanted to know the secret. What magical ingredient can possibly leave an odor lock on the toilet?
Turns out: you need water, glycerine, and a little rubbing alcohol.
Is it cheaper to make Poo Pourri at home?
Absolutely! Just like many DIY cleaning recipes, this recipe is a huge savings!
With 2 ounces of the name-brand stuff selling for about $10, this 2-ounce batch is way cheaper.
- About $0.37 for the glycerin
- $0.05 for the rubbing alcohol
- Prices for essential oils vary
In total, a single batch costs about $0.50! Yes, you’ll need to buy the bottles, but you’ll be able to reuse those over and over again.
For the price of one bottle of Poo Pourri, you make 20 batches with this recipe!
Plus, there is no extra plastic waste! Since we try to have a zero waste bathroom as much as possible, this is an important perk for us.
The best essential oils for this DIY toilet spray
Mountain Rose Herbs is a wonderful company out of Eugene, Oregon that sells everything you need for homemade skincare, health, and wellness…Oils, butters, herbs, hydrosols, pure essential oils, spray bottles, etc.
These folks are the real deal, too. They have a zero-waste facility, they are an organic processor, and the quality of their products is absolutely impeccable.
Equipment
I use bottles like these 2 oz glass spray bottles and glycerin. If you have an old Poo Pourri spray bottle, you can use that, too!
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Vegetable glycerin
This one small bottle will last forever! It’s the secret ingredient that makes homemade Poo Pourri work.
Amber glass spray bottles
I like the 2 oz bottles, which are just the right size. You can use a 1 oz bottle if you halve this recipe or a 4 0z bottle if you double it.
DIY Poo Pourri Ingredients
You’ll need just a few simple ingredients to make your own sprays! Once you buy the basic ingredients, you’ll have enough ingredients to make your own bathroom spray again and again.
- Glycerin
- Rubbing alcohol or vodka
- Water
- Essential oils
How to Make Poo Pourri at Home
- Add 1 tbs of each glycerin and rubbing alcohol or vodka.
- Then, add your fragrance with essential oils (20-30 drops of essential oils for a 2 oz bottle).
- Add water, shake, and spray 3-5 times on the surface of the water to lock in unpleasant odors.
It’s that simple and you’ll make batches of the stuff for the price of one name-brand bottle.
Get creative with this essential oil toilet spray
Since I’m so sensitive to artificial fragrances, I love that I can make my own poop spray with natural ingredients!
The fun part is experimenting with essential oils! You’ll need about 20 drops of essential oils depending on how potent you want your spray.
Feel free to use less if you don’t like scented products. Although I am extremely sensitive to fragrance, I can use essential oils with no problem.
I love bright, citrusy scents for this DIY toilet spray. Remember that you’re aiming for 15-20 drops of oil per 2 oz bottle.
Set up a simple cleaning routine
Learn the 3 stages of cleaning & the handful of super simple products I use to keep my house clean from top to bottom. It’s easy, inexpensive, and safe for the environment. Switch to a stress-free eco-friendly cleaning routine today!
DIY Poo Pourri Scents
Citrus Rosemary
(This is what I made for this batch!)
- 10 drops of lemon
- 5 drops of orange
- 5 drops of rosemary
Lemongrass Citrus
- 15 drops of lemongrass essential oil
- 5 drops of any citrus oil (I like to use lemon or orange)
Lavender Lemon
- 10 drops of lemon essential oil
- 10 drops of lavender essential oil
Grapefruit Mint
- 15 drops of grapefruit
- 5 drops of peppermint
Refreshing Summer
- 10 drops of lemongrass
- 5 drops of orange
- 5 drops of mint
Choose a custom label for your bottle!
I’ve uploaded 6 designs to suit any style in my free resource library! Click the button below for your free download.
Italian Summer
- 7 drops of basil
- 7 drops of rosemary
- 6 drops of lemon
Sunny Woods
- 12 drops of cedarwood
- 5 drops of orange
- 3 drops of lemon
Winter Fire
This one is perfect for the holiday season!
- 4 drops of cinnamon
- 2 drops of clove
- 6 drops of orange
- 8 drops of cedarwood
If you like to be conscious of the products in your house as I do, have you checked your skincare lately? So many brands feature endocrine disruptors and other products that get absorbed quickly into our bloodstream. Click here if you’re ready to clean up your skincare routine!
FAQs
There’s a reason why I recommend amber glass bottles and it’s not just for looks! Have you noticed that essential oils are always stored in amber glass bottles? Sunlight can degrade essential oils over time and will do the same to the oils in your homemade Poo Pourri if not properly stored.
Homemade toilet spray is incredibly easy to make and is an excellent way to dip your toes into DIY cleaning products. All you need to do is:
1. Add 1 tablespoon of both rubbing alcohol and vegetable glycerin to a 2 oz amber glass spray bottle.
2. Add 20-30 drops of your favorite essential oils.
3. Top with water (usually about 1/3 cup).
4. Shake and spray 3-5 times directly onto the toilet water before using.
Yes! You can replace the rubbing alcohol in this DIY Poo Pourri recipe with plain vodka for the same effect. Another alternative to rubbing alcohol is witch hazel.
Technically, you should to minimize the growth of mold, but I never do! The isopropyl alcohol helps kill bacteria as do essential oils like lemongrass, orange, peppermint, and eucalyptus. I made my bottles of this DIY Poo Pourri spray 2.5 years ago and still have no signs of mold.
DIY Toilet Spray
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tbs vegetable glycerin
- 1 tbs rubbing alcohol or vodka
- 20 drops essential oils Scroll up for scent ideas!
- 1/3 cup water
Instructions
- Add the glycerine, rubbing alcohol, and essential oils to the bottle.
- Add water until the bottle is full.
- Shake and spray 2-3 times in the toilet bowl.
Notes
Did you try this DIY toilet spray recipe?
Which essential oil blend do you want to try? Did you make your own DIY toilet spray? Share your experience below!
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- The Easiest Eco-Friendly Bathroom Cleaning Routine Ever
- Setting Up a Zero Waste Bathroom
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Thank you for sharing this at Embracing Home and Family! I have a big family, we may need to makes several bottles of this!!
Thank goodness it’s so inexpensive! Thanks for your visit and I hope you enjoy!
Hi, I hopped over from Homstead Blog Hop and I’m glad I did. I have really enjoyed exploring the healthy, green and natural living content on your blog. Thanks for sharing this valuable DIY toilet spray recipe. I love it.
Such a great recipe! I need to try out those essential oil mixes – I usually just use one type.
Jenna ♥
Stay in touch? http://www.lifeofanearthmuffin.com
Thanks so much, Jenna! Definitely mix it up! This is a great way to play around. 🙂
I’ve been using Poo Pourri for years; glad to have an inexpensive solution. Thanks!
So glad this can be helpful, Sandra! Definitely DIY and save some $$! Thanks for the visit!
Thank you for participating in our linky party!
Great post Rachael! I’ve been wondering about that stuff, and now I know it works, and how to make it for less! 🙂 I’m going to try some of that at my house – thanks!
Awesome! Just be warned – once you start making it, you won’t want to buy it anymore! Enjoy! 🙂
So glad to meet you through Tuesday Turn About! We hope to see you each week. This is a great recipe for DIY toilet spray!
Thank you so much! I found lots of great posts at the last party, so I’ll be back today!
DIY Poo Pourri? I’m game!
Where do you find the glycerin???
Thanks for sharing this recipe, definitely will make!!!
Hi, there! I ordered a small bottle on Amazon. There are some links in the post! You might be able to find some in a health food store, too. Let me know how it goes!