Basic aluminum halides and nitrates having enhanced antiperspirant efficacy are produced by reacting (a) aluminum powder, (b) an aluminum halide or nitrate solution and (c) water at a temperature greater than about 85.degree. C. This reaction is maintained until reaction products having an Al:anion ratio of about 1.2 to 1.8 and a solution solids concentration of about 30-40 wt. % on an anhydrous basis are obtained. The products are characterized as having a Size Exclusion Chromatography Test Band having a relative retention time corresponding to Band II of a Standard Basic Aluminum Chloride Size Exclusion Chromatogram and a Band II percent aluminum value of at least about 50% and a Band III percent aluminum value of less than 20%.