We all poop… and let’s face it, sometimes we can drop some awful bombs that no one deserves to suffer. And the DIY Braun Refills and Re-usable Breath Right Strip posts are such a hit, that we’re figuring a DIY Poop Spray (a.k.a. Poo Pourri) is in order to cut down on shipping, plastic, waste, over-pricing, etc. In this case, the smaller the package (1.7 fl oz) is a more egregious form of waste because it is a small single-use product. Plastic is used in the single-use container and a lot of fuel is used to ship the product when it should be made with locally sourced oils, which is the ingredient that produces the cover-up smell.
So in doing initial research into how to make my own Poo Pourri spray, I discovered that one is supposed to spray the water in the bowl 3-5 times before you poop. I never knew! Some sites even recommend an extra 2-3 just in case. This seems incredibly wasteful and probably an idea that was propagated by people with a vested interest in selling more poop spray. I use 1 spray over the toilet bowl area after doing my bidness.
People say that the essential oils in Poo Pourri creates a film on the water that is a “protective barrier” that keeps the smell trapped underneath. Pardon the pun, but I think they are full of shit. First off, the claim of an airtight seal is just ridiculous. Second, I’ve been spraying one time (not 3 – 5 or 5 – 8 sprays!) in the area of the toilet after I poop, and it seems to work just fine like that. One spray versus 3 – 8! What is really happening is that the essential oils (good essential oils) are so aromatically dense that they simply cover up the poop smell. That aromatic density combined with really good emulsification and a good fine-mist spray pump work well to diffuse the potent aroma to cover up your misdeeds.
DIY Poo Pourri Spray vs Candles, Air Fresheners, Etc.
This could be a whole other post, but I think we can all agree that wax candles or air fresheners (can, bottle, plug-in, etc.) are incredibly wasteful and inefficient. They also have suspect synthetic ingredients that usually don’t function as well or for as long.
Back to Homemade Shit Spray
Let’s make our DIY Poo Pourri…
Items needed: Spray bottle with a good, fine-mist pump. We’re reusing the original Poo Pourri bottle and pump. If you don’t have one, go for a small (durable) glass spray bottle that is dark colored because oil breaks down in light.
It’s only 4 ingredients: water, essential oil, alcohol, glycerin
The Base: Water
It’s best to use distilled water for purity (2 parts)
The Smells: Essential Oil
10 drops per ounce you plan to make
The Emulsifier & Diffuser: Alcohol
Ethyl Alcohol (1 part) + some drops of Glycerin
We learned form our DIY Braun refills that there is a significant difference between rubbing alcohol and ethyl alcohol. We also were enlightened on how manufacturers use a surfactant (soap/detergent) like glycerin that emulsifies the mixture for a finer mist and makes for even diffusion. These two ingredients are not at easy to get ahold of as rubbing alcohol and castile soap (alternatives), but they are definitely the difference between a an average poop spray that might not smell quite as good and a last as long versus a high-quality homemade deodorizer as good as Poo Pourri.
When it all comes together, just give it a little shake… no need to go crazy. If you use the ethyl alcohol and glycerin, it will emulsify more easily.
Most Popular Homemade Poo Pourri (DIY) Smells:
Bergamot + Lemongrass + Grapefruit (Poo Pourri name: Original Citrus)
Spearmint + Eucalyptus (Poo Pourri name: Royal Flush)
Lavender + Vanilla
Sandalwood + Lemon + Lavender
Eucalyptus + Peppermint + Lavender
Peppermint + Lemon
Bergamot + Lemongrass + Grapefruit
Save Money w/ DIY Poo Pourri!
You’re looking at about $.20-$.30 per oz of homemade poopourri compared to $5 an ounce. That’s 1/20th the cost!
Good essential oils (not synthetic) range from $8-$15 per ounce. But 1 oz is about 500-600 drops while a single bottle (1.7 oz) of Poo Pourri has 15-20 drops in it. If you get 3-4 bottles to mix scents, it could last you for many years versus 2 bottles that last you a few months.
But is the time and effort worth it for you? That’s for you to calculate.
Added Benefit of DIY Poo Pourri: Save Water & Skip Courtesy Flushing
But is the conservation of 1-2 gallons of water offset by the consumption of a plastic-bottle product that has to be marketed and distributed? Probably. So let’s conserve and make our own poop spray… If one makes Poo Pourri at home with local essential oils and a glass bottle or re-usable plastic bottle, there is an environmental upside to that.