PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an inhibitor against deterioration odor derived from citral, having high safety, not affecting the flavor characteristic of a product since citral is gradually reduced in each stage of production, distribution, storing, etc., of a citral-containing product, is further oxidized to generate an extremely strong deterioration odor by p-methylacetophenone, etc., and to provide a method for controlling a deterioration odor. SOLUTION: Generation of deterioration odor of citral or citral-containing product can be controlled by adding 1-500 ppm of a citral deterioration odor generation inhibitor composed of at least one or more kinds selected from the group consisting of each extract extracted from Choenomeles sinensis, Mangifera indica L., Garcinia mangostana, Terminalia chebula Retz., Punica granatum L. or Theobroma cacao L. with a solvent, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, enzyme-treated rutin, quercetin, ferulic acid, coffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, syringic acid or gallic acid to citral or a citral- containing product.
