Guidelines for Improving Deodorant Formula

Based on the formula you provided, it already contains good main ingredients for controlling body odor and sweat, namely Anti-Sweat™ (Aluminum Chlorohydrate) and LipidSoft™ Deo (Triethyl citrate). However, you are experiencing issues with insufficient odor control, separation, and underarm darkening. You can improve the formula as follows:

Insufficient Odor Control

You can add an additional odor absorbing agent such as Odor-Kill™ at a concentration of 0.5-1.0% to help absorb any remaining unpleasant odors.

Separation Issue

This formula is water-based and contains a high concentration of Anti-Sweat™ (Aluminum Chlorohydrate), which is highly electrolyte-rich. The separation occurs because there is no suitable gelling agent or emulsifier for a high-electrolyte system. It is recommended to add a gelling agent or emulsifier that is resistant to high electrolytes to help the formula stay together, prevent separation, and improve stability.

Underarm Darkening Issue

Anti-Sweat™ (Aluminum Chlorohydrate) can sometimes cause irritation, which may lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (darkening). You can add a skin brightening agent to help lighten the skin tone and reduce dark marks, such as B3-Boost™ (Picolinamide) at a concentration of 0.1-1.0%. Dissolve B3-Boost™ in a small amount of Butylene Glycol first before adding it to the water phase.

Summary of Improvements:

• Add Odor-Kill™ at 0.5-1.0% to help absorb odor.
• Add a suitable high-electrolyte resistant gelling agent/emulsifier in an appropriate amount to fix the separation issue.
• Add B3-Boost™ at 0.1-1.0% (dissolve in Butylene Glycol first) to help reduce darkening.

The proportion of water (DI Water) may need to be slightly reduced to accommodate the added ingredients and total 100%, and also to achieve a drier feel as recommended for Anti-Sweat™ (Aluminum Chlorohydrate).