Does your ethanol-based hand sanitizer have an odor? Alpha Aromatics’ perfumers have developed a number of additive solutions to reduce this issue, according to the company.

In the words of Bryan Zlotnik, COO of Alpha Aromatics, “After recently being approached by many manufacturers who sought our help in creating new and effective hand-sanitizer fragrances using ethanol due to the shortage of Isopropyl alcohol, we addressed the problem of bad odors and found several workable solutions. Our team developed these additives, which reduce the odors associated with ethanol, and yet at the same time, leaves the hand-sanitizer with a pleasant, clean scent when applied to the skin. We went even further and created a selection of fragrances to add to the solutions, keeping in mind not only personal preferences but also the fact that ethanol’s smell can vary and is dependent on its natural source.”
 
Solving the Scarcity of Hand Sanitizers
 
Supply and demand has literally forced the hand of manufacturers to use ethanol as a substitute for the current paucity of Isopropyl alcohol, a colorless, flammable chemical compound often used in hand sanitizers as a rubbing alcohol applied to the skin.
 
A massive scarcity has forced hand-sanitizing manufacturers, or those transitioning their manufacturing facility to make sanitizing products, to make their own version of ‘lemonade’ from those other types of ‘lemons’ that might be available. For many, this translates into the use of ethanol for hand-sanitizer production.
 
But there is a problem with using ethanol in sanitizers. Since ethanol is made from natural sources, like sugar or corn, the end product can end up having an odor, which can range from a very off-putting rotting garbage smell all the way to tequila or an herbal spirit.
 
Substituting one alcohol for another or blending two of them together is very tricky business that can have dangerous results. This is because each alcohol is a distinct molecule with its own melting and boiling points, levels of reactivity and toxicity and other properties.
 
How Do You Solve This Problem?
 
Alpha Aromatics’ perfumers and odor control experts have developed a number of solutions that effectively combat odors present in hand sanitizers made with ethanol, leaving the sanitizer product with a pleasant clean smell as opposed to a rotten one so customers will prefer your product over any competition. Depending upon what natural source is used to make the ethanol, Alpha Aromatics has a vast array of fragranced additive solutions that will allow your sanitizing brand to project an image of cleanliness.
 
These new odor control solutions include additives that aid in the dramatic reduction of odors that occur naturally from the source of ethanol; namely, raw materials such as corn, sorghum, barley, sugar cane, and sugar beets. Ethanol can also be a byproduct of grasses, trees, agricultural and forestry residues such as: corn cobs and stocks, rice straw, sawdust and wood chips.
 
Zlotnik explained, “Producers of hand sanitizers can utilize ethanol for their hand sanitizer products. They have only to send out small amounts of their samples to our perfumers who can analyze the product, asses the correct solution and then quickly supply several options for a fragranced odor control solution that will be suitable to a particular brand. While this new additive may not be a cure-all panacea, it will certainly aid in curtailing the deadly spread of this terrible virus.”