Jonathan Van Ness is riding the high of being a best-selling author with his autobiography, Over the Top. As Jonathan likes to say, he’s lived a lot of life. Jonathan is very good about reminding people that a lot of life means both good and bad experiences. Because of that, Jonathan is all about destigmatizing things most humans have to deal with. Like his work on living HIV+, he’s trying to eliminate any shaming he can. His latest shame-removal campaign is: feces. Not feces per se, but defecating. So committed is Jonathan, that he just became the face of Poo-Pourri toilet spray. The pitch is that one shot of Poo-Pourri before you use the restroom will eliminate any embarrassing odor after. To start the ball rolling on anti-poo-shaming, Jonathan told his own embarrassing story. Sorry if this adds to the stigma but I feel I need to let you up front that this is a detailed story about diarrhea. He told his story in this behind-the-scenes (which is a really unfortunate pun) video. People graciously excerpted it for us:
It’s something that everyone does but it’s something that’s very stigmatized and people just feel kind of gross about it. I’ve dealt with poo shame, and anywhere we can remove stigma and shame, I want to be here for it.
It was Sepulveda and Pico, and I was in a Kia Rio, at a red light, with nowhere to run. And it wasn’t a ‘shart’ or a ‘chancer,’ as my step-dad would have said. (A chancer is when you have to fart and so you take a chance but you’re not sure.) This wasn’t a chancer — this was a 27-year-old having a full diarrhea that was brought on by a hot, seafood spinach salad with a kombucha and frozen yogurt.
Two other pieces of information missing from the transcription are that he did not have a chance to spray Poo-Pourri prior to his Pico Poo (Sepulveda Secretion?) and that his expulsion was in the “gallons.” You can tell just by my language how comfortable I am with discussing this. I’m a mom, I have elderly parents/relatives – I have no problem with the facts or dealing with what I have to. But I hate – loathe, if you will – any scatological discussion, and that includes humor. The only exception to this is for medical reasons. I know I’m not as evolved as I should be on this and I’m sorry I can’t be that person.
However, I do support destigmatizing things that naturally affect us. And apparently, sh-tting oneself is much more common than I realized. I remember on I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman, she got an entire fire department to share their stories as an icebreaker – and almost everyone had one. And if this spray works, bully, because I get so annoyed at people who make a huge deal about poop or fart smells. Like Jonathan said, they happen all the time. If it’s too powerful, we can excuse ourselves but waving arms, dramatically holding noses or exaggerated admonishments are not necessary (unless that was what the offender wanted, we all find different things funny). I’ve seen Jonathan’s commercials and they are cute and playful, so right on brand with his message. I have not used the spay so I have no idea if it heavily perfumes the air or not, I know people with perfume sensitivities can’t be around certain air fresheners. I did see that they just came out with a Pumpkin Chai scent and gawd help me but that excites me. I love Halloween and if it was called Boo-Pourri I’d have no problem talking about it.
Photo credit: People and WENN Photos
Good for him, I’m glad it’s opening out and fighting the shame but i have to say when i first saw this product advertised in the UK a year or two ago i made an official complaint to Advertising Standards because the ad in particular was aimed specifically at women (because of course only women should feel poop shame ugh) and it was on during the children’s tv segment at 8am. I wrote a good complaint but it wasn’t up held. I dunno, shit happens, everyone does it, capitalism more plasticy things to buy. Open a window and get over it everyone eh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
But that commercial is hysterical. My daughter found it on YouTube and made us buy it. When 5 people are on vacation and sharing one bathroom, it is practically a godsend.
I just bought some and hope it works. We are almost finished renovating a vintage Airstream, and within a month we will be taking off! I’m excited, but it is very close quarters, so I’m praying that it will be Poo-Pourri to the rescue!
Little known fact: you can use any bathroom spray and spray it directly into the toilet water and get the same effect. Poo Pourri is not actually special in that way. It’s just that Poo Pourri is the first brand to suggest spraying the toilet water instead of the air.
I started making my own Poo-Pourri for when guests are around and hubby decides he wants to take a grumper, so the whole house doesn’t smell! It’s actually pretty simple – some rose water, a few drops of a carrier oil (grapeseed), and some essential oils.
I did this for Mr.Delphi, who has Crohn’s Disease (and therefore spends a fair chunk of time in the loo). It works wonders. And PooPourri is in the restrooms at work…we have several employees with fragrance-sensitivities and this stuff really doesn’t offend anyone’s olfactory sense. It’s a tad expensive, but good quality stuff.
I took a screenshot of this original Lala-I’m going to make this.I bought poo pours at bed bath beyond once and maybe I’m the only one but it didn’t do it’s magic.
Delphi I have Crohn’s-I know what you’re husband goes through re A LOT of time in the bathroom 😟
As a runner/triathlete who frequently shares hotel rooms with fellow runners/triathletes, I have to say Poo Pourri has absolutely changed our lives for the better- no, BEST! [If you’re not familiar with the concept, everybody has to poop before the race. They just do.] Excuse me, I need to go look and see if there actually is a “Boo Pourri” now…
A friend of mine has it in her powder room but I’ve never used it. But I’ve wondered about it and how/why is it better than any other air freshener?
And yeah, not going before a race is not a good idea.
It essentially stops the smell in the bowl, before it permeates the room. The smell of the oil itself doesn’t linger, which is nice for people who are sensitive to traditional room sprays. The only problem is remembering to use it [you have to spray the water before you go], but you get used to it and it eventually becomes habit.
It’s a spray that goes in the toilet water before you go, and because it’s oil based, the oil sits on top of the water and the poostank doesn’t escape at all. It’s honestly incredible, we started with them as a joke at the work christmas party, and now everyone keeps/uses them all the time. The only time they don’t work is when you have to courtesy flush but now can’t re-spray from the sitting position…
It’s Just natural oils; regular room sprays give me a headache. This is the BEST PRODUCT; I have it in every bathroom because I have a sensitive nose and my husband eats insane things.
My daughter runs track and cross country and I didn’t realize how true this was until I noticed there are always at least 10 porta-potties near the start line of every race. This stuff is definitely a god send when sharing a hotel room.
I always joke that if I ever write a race book I will call it “Everybody Poops!”
I would like views on the following question:
Do you spray into the pan/bowl or the air above?
As I am one of those people who can’t tolerate air freshers etc, I spray into the pan. I find this very effective in removing an offensive smell.
Into the bowl.
You spray into the bowl, I don’t find the scents overly air freshener-y or floral and it does what it is designed to do, which I didn’t think it would when I bought it as a joke stocking stuffer for my husband who likes to do it in the powder room in the morning so he can be near the family (?). I think it should be included in the toiletries of hotel rooms standard. SO MANY hotel room stories.
When I was pregnant, my sense of smell was so strong, at that time I was still living with 4 other women, I was in the attic and another room next to mine and we shared shower & toilet. The smells were just torture for me given how sensitive my sense of smell was. This would have been a very useful product.
I found putting the toilet lid down before flushing helps to keep bad smells at bay.
It also stops tiny poo particles from being sprayed in the room, someone tested that theory by putting a few drops of ink in the bowl and compared it when the toilet was flushed without the lid and with the lid on and they tracked if they can see the coloured droplets and they did so now they make sure to flush the toilet with the lid on.
Flushing with the lid open is a big no no,like you sited above.I watched a television show testing everything in the bathroom for fecal matter/poo germs ;let’s just say NEVER leave your toothbrush out and flush with the lid up amongst other things!
Yes, that’s why I don’t leave my toothbrush in the bathroom.
Some people still don’t believe me and think I’m weird when I tell them (when it comes up in our conversations) that I close the lid before flushing.
Yes always close the lid before flushing ! This is why public washrooms are the most disgusting. Imagine all the fecal matter EVERYWHERE !
I’ve bought it and it works but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten it’s there until I’m already going. And here’s the other thing, I can’t be the only one who flushes more than once while going. Are you supposed to spray the water in between flushes?? That’s…awkward.
I have Crohn’s disease and let’s just say I’ve had about every embarrassing and or gross bowel related situation happen and probably invented some original disgusting situations.
Seriously though $h!t happens -for real to us all and it can be embarrassing but it’s normal.
I have Crohn’s Disease too and i’m right there with you. It has caused so much misery & embarrassment! I think the worst such thing that ever happened to me was having an, um, accident in bed while i was having sex with a very new partner who i was really into. (The way he dealt with it and reassured me made me fall in love with him even more and now he’s my husband of 10 years and father of my 2 kids.) I don’t think it could get much worse than that! I guess Jonathan’s commitment to de-stigmatizing embarrassing things inspired me to share this disgusting story. Love him so much and really admire his openness. He’s such a special person.
I’m glad you shared!THAT would be embarrassing and what a truly great man to go through something um….Like what you had happen (although I still sympathize with you more)!
My husband and daughter have seen it all,so okay I’ll just get it out there (pun intended )I pooped in the car last night coming home from the gym with my daughter-Life is messy and this disease is hard -we really are lucky to be able to share stories and laugh because it just helps ❤️My wishes to you for the best health (and always a bathroom near by😂😉😉
Poopouri is THE BEST. It’s legit and a spray or two in the bowl is all you need. I highly recommend it.
How does the oil effect the sewer system, and eventually the water everywhere?
You are also breathing it in no? Has it been tested on human lungs? This seems so unnecessary. You’re the only one in the bathroom when you use it no? Also, if your fecal matter smells THAT bad it might be from a bad diet. I don’t know but this is such a first world problem.
Can also just light a match afterwards (wood is better than cardboard for this purpose).
I love Jonathan, and I love Poo Pourri. It works. The only trouble we have is making sure to spray before going. It works really well. I also sometimes use it to freshen the air in our restroom.
As my granny used to say, not all of us eat only flowers, so poo-pourri helps… 🙂
Long ago, I think, on Lifetime on some home show, someone demonstrated spraying white vinegar on a cloth and waving it around. I never tried it tho. Maybe it works?
How is shilling for something that makes poo not smell removing the stigma of having poo that smells? It’s like saying “Hairy arms are gross, here’s a waxing solution!” without acknowledging that the “solution” is a capitalist answer to something that’s actually normal.