If you’re tired of the harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances in store-bought air fresheners, it’s time to try making your own DIY toilet spray. This simple, natural recipe helps trap unpleasant odors before they escape into your bathroom air, leaving your space smelling fresh and inviting.

With just a few natural ingredients that you probably already own, you can  say goodbye to toxic chemicals and synthetic fragrances that can irritate your skin or harm your septic systems. Let’s protect your home from nasty odors in a safe, effective way. 

Why Make Your Own Toilet Spray?

Let’s be honest, no one loves going into a bathroom after someone has “done their business.” It’s not their fault, poo stinks…lol. Usually, air freshener is sprayed in an effort to cover up the bathroom odors, but it really just becomes this weird mix of poo smell and synthetic chemicals. It’s much better to trap the poo smell in the toilet bowl and not have to use air fresheners. 

Toilet sprays do just that! You spray them onto the toilet water BEFORE you do your business and like magic, the bad smells are trapped. The first time I saw a name brand toilet spray at a hair salon, I knew I needed it! Then I saw the price…lol. Over the years cheaper alternatives have come and gone but most have artificial fragrances and ingredients I just don’t want in our home. So, I learned to make my own diy version just like I make other simple cleaning products.

Making your own poop spray or DIY poo pourri is an easy eco-friendly solution. You can avoid buying disposable plastic bottles, and instead, opt for reusable glass spray bottles that are better for the environment and simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. 

Plus, it will save you tons of money – those little 1.4 ounce bottles of the brand name toilet spray are as much as $10 a bottle! You can easily make 6 ounces of homemade toilet spray for under $1! That’s a huge savings for about 5 minutes worth of work.

While it may sound odd, this Before You Go spray actually makes a fun homemade gift, especially for a young adult who is going off to college and will have roommates for the first time.

What You’ll Need for Your DIY Toilet Spray:

• Distilled water: Distilled water will help prevent bacterial growth. If you have to use tap water – boil it for a full 5 minutes (start timing after the water starts boiling) and then let it cool before using.
• Witch hazel: A natural astringent, witch hazel helps the spray disperse evenly while also providing a mild antiseptic quality. You could also use rubbing alcohol or vodka. 
• Vegetable glycerin: This helps the water and essential oil emulsify. If you don’t have vegetable glycerin, you can use a tiny bit of castile soap or dish soap. 
• Essential oils of choice: Choose pure essential oils like lemongrass, peppermint, orange, or lavender for their pleasant scents and odor-fighting properties. You can even combine several essential oils. Sometimes I just reach for whatever I have that is leftover from another project and needs to be used up.
• Glass spray bottle: Use a small glass spray bottles, ideally 2-4 oz bottle, which is perfect for storing your homemade toilet spray. You can reusable bottles that you’ve saved. I purchased some spray lids to use for saved 1oz essential oil bottles and trigger sprayers for some 8 oz bottles that I’ve saved from a lotion I buy. 

DIY Toilet Spray Recipe: Step-by-Step

1. Prepare the Bottle: Start by cleaning your glass spray bottle thoroughly. Make sure it’s dry before adding any ingredients.
2. Mix the Liquids: If your bottle is at least a 6 oz bottle, you can mix the toilet spray directly in the bottle. If not, mix it in a small glass jar or glass measuring cup. Mix the distilled water, witch hazel, and vegetable glycerin. This will be the base of your homemade toilet spray.
3. Add Essential Oils: Add 20-30 drops of your chosen pure essential oils. Peppermint and lemongrass are perfect for their clean scent and ability to trap odors, but you can experiment with different scents to create your perfect blend.
4. Shake It Up: Once all ingredients are added, screw on the cap and shake well. The essential oils may float on top, but shaking the bottle before each use will ensure that the oils mix evenly.
5. Use Your DIY Toilet Spray: Before using the toilet, shake the toilet spray and simply spray the surface of the toilet water a couple of times to create an oily barrier that traps any unpleasant odors beneath the surface of the water.

Be sure to label the spray bottle (and all your homemade cleaners). We have free printable labels for you, just fill out the form below.

Tips for Best Results

• Storage: Store your DIY toilet spray in a cool, dry place, like a bathroom cabinet, away from direct sunlight. Sunlight will degrade the essential oils but if you use a colored glass bottle, you can leave it out on the back of your toilet for easy access. Your homemade sprays should last for a couple of weeks, but always give the bottle a good shake before each use to keep the oils and liquids well mixed. If you’ve used distilled water, you don’t need to worry about it going bad before you use it up.
• Customize the Scent: You can always adjust the number of drops of essential oils based on how strong you want the fragrance. If you prefer a stronger scent, add a few more drops of your favorite essential oil blends.
• Septic Safe: Just like our natural toilet cleaner recipe, this DIY recipe uses natural ingredients that are septic safe, so you won’t have to worry about harming your septic system. 

Thanks for sharing!