Disclosed are oral care mouth rinse compositions formulated as stable oil-in-water emulsions comprising: (a) at least about 0.025% by weight of a quaternary ammonium antimicrobial agent, (b) at least about 0.05% by weight of an essentially water-insoluble volatile oil, and (c) at least about 50% by weight water, wherein the emulsion comprises oil droplets having an average mean particle size of about 350 nm or less. Examples of quaternary ammonium antimicrobial agent include cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), tetradecylpyridinium chloride, N-tetradecyl-4-ethyl pyridinium chloride or domiphen bromide.
