WHO Hand Sanitizer Formula: Exact Ingredients, Method and Why It Became the Global Standard

The WHO hand sanitizer formula is a deliberately simple recipe published by the World Health Organization for local production of alcohol-based handrubs. Two versions exist — one based on ethanol, one based on isopropyl alcohol. Both pair the alcohol with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, a touch of glycerol, and water. That is the whole formula. It became the global reference because it works, uses widely available ingredients, and can be made anywhere by people who know what they are doing.

This article gives the exact recipe, walks through what each ingredient does, and explains why this formulation became the standard during the 2020-2022 pandemic period.

The two WHO recipes (for 1 litre)

Formulation I — ethanol-based

• Ethanol 96% v/v — 833.3 ml

• Hydrogen peroxide 3% — 41.7 ml

• Glycerol 98% — 14.5 ml

• Distilled or sterile water — to 1000 ml

• Final ethanol concentration — approximately 80% v/v

Formulation II — isopropyl alcohol based

• Isopropyl alcohol 99.8% — 751.5 ml

• Hydrogen peroxide 3% — 41.7 ml

• Glycerol 98% — 14.5 ml

• Distilled or sterile water — to 1000 ml

• Final isopropyl alcohol concentration — approximately 75% v/v

Both formulations are referenced in the WHO 2009 guidelines for local production of handrub formulations. For more on the distinction between the two, see our buyer-facing piece on WHO-formulation hand sanitizer for quality buyers.

What each ingredient does

• Alcohol (ethanol or IPA) — the active. At the 75-80% final concentration, both alcohols disrupt microbial cell walls and denature proteins effectively. For why this concentration works, see why 70% IPA is the standard for surface disinfection.

• Hydrogen peroxide — at this low residual concentration, it inactivates bacterial spores that might contaminate the formulation during preparation. It is a process-safety ingredient rather than a primary biocide.

• Glycerol — a humectant. Slows the alcohol's drying effect on skin enough that you can apply it many times a day without your hands cracking.

• Distilled or sterile water — the diluent. Brings the alcohol from 96% (or 99.8%) down to the kill-curve sweet spot near 75-80%.

The formulation is minimal by design: each ingredient does one job, and the WHO did not add fragrance, thickener, or colour.

How it is made (the method, step-by-step)

The WHO's published method, simplified:

1. Pour the alcohol into a clean, dry, labelled 1-litre container.

2. Add the hydrogen peroxide 3%, measured carefully.

3. Add the glycerol. Glycerol is viscous — rinse the measuring cup with the distilled water to make sure all of it goes in.

4. Top up to 1000 ml with distilled or sterile water.

5. Cap the container and gently mix.

6. Allow the bottle to stand for at least 72 hours before use. This rest period is to ensure that any bacterial spores present in the starting materials are inactivated by the hydrogen peroxide.

7. Dispense into smaller bottles for use.

The rest-before-use step is often missed by amateurs but is a defined part of the protocol.

Why it became the global reference

The WHO formulation became the global reference because of a few practical advantages:

• Defined and published. Anyone can audit a bottle against the formulation.

• Simple ingredients. Each one is available in most countries.

• Documented efficacy. Tested against the EN 1500 hygienic handrub standard and shown to meet the requirement.

• Skin tolerance. The humectant prevents excessive drying.

• Not patented. The recipe is in the public domain explicitly so anyone can manufacture it.

During the 2020-2022 pandemic period, when commercial supply was disrupted, hospital pharmacies and small manufacturers worldwide produced WHO-formulation sanitizer because it was the recipe that worked, with ingredients they could source.

What home recipes get wrong

Recipes circulating during the pandemic period sometimes went off-spec in ways that mattered:

• Substituting vodka for ethanol. Vodka is 40% alcohol; diluting it further by adding water and glycerol gives a finished concentration around 25-30%. That is below the kill-curve sweet spot. The product looks similar to a real sanitizer but does not work.

• Skipping the hydrogen peroxide. The result is functionally an alcohol-water-glycerol mix; it still kills most vegetative bacteria, but the formulation is no longer WHO Formulation I or II.

• Adding essential oils or aloe vera. May feel nicer, but changes the formulation and the kill behaviour in ways that are not characterised.

• Using tap water instead of distilled / sterile. Tap water introduces microbial load and trace contaminants.

Consult a doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure what to use; clinically supplied sanitizer is the right product for most situations.

How long does it last

A properly made WHO-formulation sanitizer in a well-sealed opaque container is generally stable for 18-24 months. The main shelf-life-limiting factor is alcohol evaporation through inadequate seals. Storing it in a cool place, out of direct sunlight, in its original container, gives the full shelf life.

A pump-bottle on a desk with the cap left open will lose alcohol noticeably faster.

Is it safe for daily use

Alcohol-based handrubs in WHO formulation are designed for repeated daily use on intact skin. The glycerol component is the reason hands do not crack from frequent application. Avoid use on broken skin, mucous membranes, or eyes. If hands feel persistently dry, switch between handrub and washing with soap and water, or add a separate moisturiser.

Consult a doctor or pharmacist if you have a chronic skin condition that interacts badly with alcohol.

Pioma's view

Pioma Chemtech, a specialty chemical manufacturer based in India, supplies hand sanitizer in alcohol-based formulations including WHO-formulation reference variants, with batch-wise QC for alcohol content, hydrogen peroxide residual, and microbial parameters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make WHO-formulation sanitizer at home?

The recipe itself is in the public domain and the steps are simple, but you need accurate measuring equipment, food-grade or pharmacopoeial-grade ingredients (particularly the 96% ethanol or 99.8% IPA), and a 72-hour rest period. Most people are better served by buying a commercially made WHO-formulation product.

Does WHO Formulation I or II work better against viruses?

For enveloped viruses (including SARS-CoV-2), both are effective with proper application time. Neither is meaningfully "better" than the other.

How long should I rub my hands with WHO-formulation sanitizer?

Until the alcohol fully evaporates — usually 20-30 seconds. The contact time is what kills the microbes; waving wet hands in the air for a second doesn't.

Why does the WHO recipe include hydrogen peroxide?

Primarily to inactivate bacterial spores in the starting materials so the finished product is not contaminated. It is not a primary biocide once you apply the sanitizer.

Is WHO-formulation sanitizer better than soap and water?

For hands that are not visibly soiled, alcohol-based handrub is equally effective and faster. For visibly dirty hands, soap and water is the right choice — the alcohol cannot penetrate organic soil.

Why does my WHO-formulation sanitizer smell strong?

96% ethanol or 99.8% IPA has a noticeable alcohol smell. That is the active doing its job, not a defect. If the smell is unpleasant, look for a slightly lower-alcohol variant — but kill efficacy reduces below 70%.

Can I add fragrance to WHO-formulation sanitizer?

You can, but the result is no longer WHO Formulation I or II — it is a derivative product. Sale of such a derivative under the "WHO formulation" label is misleading.

For commercial supply of hand sanitizer including WHO-formulation variants, Pioma Chemtech is available for distributors and institutional buyers — contact us for specifications.