A method of treating a peroxygen compound (e.g., potassium monopersulfate) for use in applications where controlled release rate, exposure to incompatible compounds, and/or moisture is presented. The method incorporates coating the peroxygen compound with one or more of the following polymers: 1) chitin/chitosan, 2) carboxylate/sulfonate copolymer or tertiary polymer, and 3) carboxylate polymer selected from polymaleic acid, polyepoxysuccinic acid and/or phosphinocarboxylate polymers. Optionally, the peroxygen compound is also coated with an inorganic salt layer and a silicate layer. Potassium monopersulfate coated with an organic polymer is useful in reduced allergenic formulations and as an anti-caking agent. When the organic polymer is a polysaccharide, the coated potassium monopersulfate is also effective for shock treatment of water systems (e.g., pools). The oxidizing composition prepared with this method has a prolonged shelf life while demonstrating good solubility during use.