Abstract: A method of providing a salt having antiperspirant activity and having an empirical formula Al2(OH)6-aXa.YH2O wherein X is one of Cl, Br or I, Y ranges from 1.5 to 2.5, and a ranges from 0.8 to 1.33 includes heating an aqueous solution comprised of one of aluminum halide or HX, and aluminum metal for a time period sufficient for the aluminium metal to dissolve and provide a solution containing dissolved aluminum; and subsequently aging the solution containing dissolved aluminium for a time period ranging from 50 minutes to 21 days at a temperature ranging from 80 to 130° C. to provide a resulting solution having a ratio of Al to X ranging from 1.5:1 to 2.0:1 and having an aluminum concentration ranging from 0.5 to 3.8 wt %.

Abstract: An improved antiperspirant active material, and methods for its preparation, identification and use as well as cosmetic compositions containing said material are disclosed. Said material comprises a polymeric aluminum compound having the empirical formulaAl.sub.2 (OH).sub.6-a X.sub.awhere X is Cl, Br or I, a is about 0.3 to about 4; wherein said antiperspirant active material is further characterized by:(a) a Size Exclusion Chromatography Test band having a relative retention time corresponding to Band III of the Standard Basic Aluminum Chloride Solution Size Exclusion Chromatogram; and(b) a Band III Percent Aluminum Value of at least 20 percent.