Liquid chalk labels are short, but they are worth reading. Here is what is in Odyssey Liquid Chalk and what each ingredient is doing, as listed on the product page.

Magnesium carbonate

This is chalk. It is the same mineral in block chalk and gym chalk buckets. It absorbs moisture and creates the dry layer between your skin and the bar. Everything else in the bottle exists to get this layer onto your hands evenly and keep it there.

Isopropyl alcohol

The carrier. It keeps the magnesium carbonate in liquid form in the bottle, then evaporates in a few seconds once it is on your skin. That evaporation is the fast dry. It is also why you should keep the cap closed: an open bottle loses alcohol and the chalk thickens.

Silica silylate

A fine, treated silica that gives the finished layer a smooth, dry-touch feel instead of a gritty one. It is the difference between chalk that feels like a thin coat and chalk that feels like sand.

Cyclomethicone

A light, fast-evaporating silicone fluid that helps the product spread evenly across your palms before it dries down. It leaves nothing behind once dry, so the chalk layer is even and there are no thick patches.

What is not in it

There are four ingredients, and each one has a job. There is no fragrance and no colouring. If you want to compare, turn over any liquid chalk bottle and read the list.

How to use it

Apply a small amount, spread it evenly across your palms and fingers, and let it dry for a few seconds. A little goes a long way. For the full routine, see how to use liquid chalk.

Odyssey Liquid Chalk comes in a compact 80 mL (2.70 oz) bottle, is developed alongside elite deadlifters, and ships fast from Odyssey Products in Ottawa, Canada, with a 30-Day guarantee.