Controlled release biocidal salts

A controlled release biocidal salt for application to skin or hair having a first component comprising the cation Nα-lauroyl-L-arginine ethyl ester and a second component comprising an anion of carboxylic acid or of a carboxylic moiety of a saturated or unsaturated C8-C22 fatty acid, said salt being characterized such that when the salt is exposed to an aqueous medium, the salt partially dissolves thereby releasing from 2 ppm to 500 ppm biocidal ion, and further characterized as leaving a residual reservoir of undissolved salt capable of releasing more biocidal ions as the salt is consumed or otherwise removed from the environment encompassing the target bacteria, wherein all of the components of the biocidal salt are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for food use or are found naturally in foodstuffs so that the biocidal salt could be ingested or applied to skin or hair with little or no side effects.