The present invention provides an antimicrobial composition comprising an antimicrobial effective amount (such as a preservative, bactericidal, and/or fungicidal effective amount) of a mixture comprising at least: (a) benzoic acid, or a salt thereof and (b) ´-gluconolactone and, optionally, one or more of (c) lemon grass oil (d) cinnamaldehyde (e) sorbic acid, or a salt thereof (f) erythorbic acid, or a salt thereof (g) arabinogalactan (galactoarabinan) (h) a hexahydro-iso-alpha-acid or tetrahydro-iso-alpha-acid obtained from hops extracts, or a mixture thereof and (i) Achillea fragrantissima ( Santolina fragrantissima Forssk., lavender cotton) oil.
