by Alexa Steele

Created on: May 31, 2009

"Spritz the bowl before you go and no one else will ever know."

That's the slogan for Poo-Pourri bathroom spray; a product I picked up on a whim one day while at the local card shop. The clever marketing had me curious from the first. Not only was there the aforementioned slogan, but it was adorned with a letter "P" charm and bore a cherub using the potty for its mascot. Add to that the fact that it smelled nice and the teenaged girl in me screamed "I gotta have it!"

This product is a deodorizer that is meant to be used before the dirty deed is done. The directions are to shake well and apply the essential oil mixture to the toilet water creating a protective film. Since oil and water don't mix, all undesirable odors are trapped within the bowl. I'll spare you the details, but it works.

The manufacturer of Poo-Pourri claims it is all natural, non-toxic and biodegradable. Supposedly, it is safe for use with a septic tank, too.

Upon visiting the poopourri.com website I discovered there are several scents beyond the original variety I picked up at the card shop; all of which have whimsical names. There's No. 2, described as a sweet bouquet of Mandarin, Bergamot and Orange. HeavenSCENT with white jasmine. And Royal Flush which has a more masculine fragrance scented with eucalyptus and spearmint.

Poo-Pourri comes in 8 oz, 4 oz, and 2 oz bottles (the latter being perfect for sicking in your purse and using in away-from-home emergencies). If you have ever watched the show Desperate Housewives, this is the type of product Bree would use to protect her ladylike reputation.

Not to be ignored are the aptly named Dia-Pourri, designed to be sprayed on diapers prior to disposal in the wastebasket, and Pooch-Pourri, a pet odor eliminator.

Apparently the idea for Poo-Pourri came from co-founder Sergio Batiz who was looking to solve a "stinky situation at work." He and his sister-in-law, Suzy Batiz (who was knowledgeable in blending essential oils) set about creating a blend that could tackle the stinkiest of jobs. In January 2007 Poo-Pourri was launched and has been making a splash ever since.

From my personal experience I can say this product beats out any post-flush air fresheners. Most spays just attempt to cover up odors and end up mingling with them instead. Also, many disinfectants leave behind a chemically aftertaste. This product, on the other hand, actually prevents toilet odors from getting into the air while giving off a peasant lemony aroma. If you want to make the claim that your poo don't pee-ew, this is the product to try.

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