The disclosure provides an improved synthesis for a zinc-lysine complex having the formula [Zn(C6H14N2O2)2Cl]+Cl−, in which a zinc compound selected from ZnO and ZnCl2, is reacted with a lysine compound selected from lysine and lysine.HCl, in aqueous acid. The disclosure also provides oral care and personal care compositions comprising the complex prepared by the synthesis, and methods of using these complexes and compositions.