The present invention relates to an antimicrobial composition comprising:an effective amount of an antimicrobial lipid component comprising a (C7-C12)saturated fatty ether of a polyhydric alcohol, a (C8-C22)unsaturated fatty ether of a polyhydric alcohol, a (C7-C12)saturated fatty acid ester of a polyhydric alcohol, a (C8-C22)unsaturated fatty acid ester of a polyhydric alcohol, an alkoxylated derivative thereof, or combinations thereof, wherein the alkoxylated derivative has less than 5 moles of alkoxide per mole of polyhydric alcohol； with the proviso that for polyhydric alcohols other than sucrose, the esters comprise monoesters and the ethers comprise monoethers, and for sucrose the esters comprise monoesters, diesters, or combinations thereof, and the ethers comprise monoethers, diethers, or combinations thereof；an effective amount of an enhancer component comprising an alpha-hydroxy acid, a beta-hydroxy acid, a chelating agent, a (C1-C4)alkyl carboxylic acid, a (C6-C12)aryl carboxylic acid, a (C6-C12)aralkyl carboxylic acid, a (C6-C12)alkaryl carboxylic acid, a phenolic compound, a (C1-C10)alkyl alcohol, an ether glycol, orcombinations thereof；a surfactant distinct from the antimicrobial lipid component；a hydrophilic component； anda hydrophobic component which forms the greatest portion of the composition.
