Consumer advocacy teardown
Natural Hormone Rooting Powder alternative & active ingredient dupe
Stop paying £4.99 for Doff. The bulk active is Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) — 87% less per working litre than a typical pack.
- Active
- Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)
- CAS
- 133-32-4
- Dupe
- Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)
- Saving
- 87% / L
Saving is per litre of working-strength mix versus a typical pack price, not versus the DIY kit total. Shop prices move — always check the listing.
The Marketing Claim & The Catch
A typical 75 g tub pack of Doff Natural Hormone Rooting Powder is about £4.99 in lawn & garden. That is a snapshot, not a live Amazon price — listings, sizes and deals move. The marketing line is that you are buying a finished lifestyle product, not a weighed chemical.
On the pack: Encourages rapid root strike in soft, semi-hard and hardwood cuttings; and Helps prevent basal fungal rot in fresh cuttings.
The catch: A 75 g tub is 74.9 g of talc carrying 75 mg of IBA. That is about £67/kg for cosmetic powder. 0.5 g of pure IBA in 500 g of unscented talc is the same 0.1% dip.
- “Encourages rapid root strike in soft, semi-hard and hardwood cuttings”
- “Helps prevent basal fungal rot in fresh cuttings”
Proprietary Blend & Dosage Breakdown
The labelled active is Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 0.1%. Everything else in the pack is talcum powder (99.9%).
At 0.1% active, most of what you pay for is carrier and packaging. The brand is selling convenience, fragrance and a label — not a uniquely potent molecule.
Branded working strength is whatever comes out of the bottle. The bulk alternative is 99% Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), mixed to 0.1% w/w in talc (0.5 g IBA per 500 g talc).
- Labelled active
- Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)
- 0.1%
- Carrier
- Talcum powder (99.9%)
- Retail pack
- 75 g tub · £4.99
The Active Chemical Alternative (Dupe Stack)
The dupe stack is Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 99% bulk. Indexed as CAS 133-32-4, formula C12H13NO2. Buy it as 1 g IBA (makes 1 kg of 0.1% powder) for about £8.50 from Amazon UK.
Working strength: 0.1% w/w in talc (0.5 g IBA per 500 g talc). Indicative cost £0.01 per diluted litre — 87% below a typical branded pack on a per-litre basis, before you reuse leftover bulk.
Follow the mixing method and the supplier SDS. Wear the listed PPE. Do not mix incompatible oxidisers, acids or ammonia.
- IBA is a plant-growth regulator. Wear gloves and an FFP2 mask; weigh in a still room. Keep away from children.
- Dissolve 0.5 g of IBA in about 20 ml of isopropyl alcohol.
- Fold into 500 g of unscented pharmaceutical talc until evenly damp. Spread thin and dry. That is 0.1% IBA — the same strength as the 75 g tub.
- Dip the cut base, tap off surplus, and strike as usual. 1 g of IBA makes about 1 kg of finished powder (roughly thirteen 75 g tubs).
Mixing desk
Dilution calculator
Switch between filling a sprayer and covering a measured surface. Figures are educational estimates from the listed ratio — always check the SDS.
Formula
Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)
- Concentrate
- 0.5 g
- grams of solid
- Water
- 0.02 L
- carrier volume
- Batch cost
- £4.25
- 0.02 L working solution
- Saved vs retail
- £0.00
- 0% · retail £0.03
Side-by-Side Price & Potency Comparison
Head-to-head comparison
| Measure | Retail brandedDoff | Raw active dupeDupeStack |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Natural Hormone Rooting PowderAmazon UK search — listing, not a confirmed seller | Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) |
| Pack / unit | 75 g tub · £4.99 | 1 g IBA (makes 1 kg of 0.1% powder) · £8.50 |
| Active | Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 0.1%Carrier: Talcum powder (99.9%) | 99% bulkC12H13NO2 |
| CAS number | Not disclosed on pack | 133-32-4 |
| Working strength | Ready-to-use pack | Dilute 0.1% w/w in talc (0.5 g IBA per 500 g talc) |
| Cost per litre | £4.99 / pack | £0.01 / L mixed from bulk |
| Headline saving | Baseline | 87% cheaper |
| COSHH / PPE | Follow the branded SDS | Gloves. Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene)Respirator. Rated respirator for dusts or vapours as specified on the SDS |
Active ingredient and cheaper alternative — FAQ
What is the active ingredient in Doff?
Doff Natural Hormone Rooting Powder is labelled as Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 0.1%. The carrier is Talcum powder (99.9%). Pack size: 75 g tub. The bulk equivalent we index is Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (CAS 133-32-4).
Is Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) safe on lawns?
Used at the listed working strength (0.1% w/w in talc (0.5 g IBA per 500 g talc)), the dupe is the same chemistry as the branded pack for lawns, beds and pots. That is not a blanket all-clear: read the supplier SDS, wear the listed PPE, keep acids away from hypochlorite, and follow UK HSE/COSHH rules. Wellness teardowns are supplements, not medicines.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Doff Natural Hormone Rooting Powder?
Yes. The bulk equivalent is Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (CAS 133-32-4). Indicative saving 87% per working litre versus a typical £4.99 pack. Working strength: 0.1% w/w in talc (0.5 g IBA per 500 g talc). Live shop prices move.
How do you mix the Natural Hormone Rooting Powder dupe stack?
IBA is a plant-growth regulator. Wear gloves and an FFP2 mask; weigh in a still room. Keep away from children. Dissolve 0.5 g of IBA in about 20 ml of isopropyl alcohol. Fold into 500 g of unscented pharmaceutical talc until evenly damp. Spread thin and dry. That is 0.1% IBA — the same strength as the 75 g tub. Dip the cut base, tap off surplus, and strike as usual. 1 g of IBA makes about 1 kg of finished powder (roughly thirteen 75 g tubs).
DupeStack provides chemical concentration data and educational mixing guides. Always review official manufacturer Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and comply with UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and COSHH regulations when handling concentrated substances. Some links on this site are affiliate links.
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DIY stack · 87% / L vs branded
£22.50indicative kit · Amazon cannot add a mixed search kit as one basket