The ingredient list for hand sanitizer tends to be fairly short. Many people have realized just how little you need after learning to make their own in recent months. However, manufactured hand sanitizer may be a shade different from what you whip up in your kitchen. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the same basic active ingredient in these disinfectants is alcohol, which may be comprised of either ethyl alcohol or isopropanol. Where recipes can differ is the inactive ingredients, which may include: Aloe vera gel Essential oils Glycerin Propylene glycol Tocopherol acetate Isopropyl myristate