Abstract: The present invention relates to a rinse-off antimicrobial cleansing composition comprising from about 0.1% to about 5.0%, by weight of the cleansing composition, of an antimicrobial active; from about 9% to about 14%, by weight of the cleansing composition, of an anionic surfactant, wherein at least about 67% of the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of Class A surfactants, Class C surfactants, and mixtures thereof, wherein the ratio of Class A surfactant to Class C is from about 4:1 to about 1.5:1, and wherein the total anionic surfactant comprises less than about 50% of the ammonium counter cation salt; from about 4% to about 8%, by weight of the cleansing composition, of a proton donating agent having a Biological Activity Index, Z, of greater than about 0.