It is intended to provide a novel deodorant composition which is excellent in the deodorizing effect, is capable of affording a deodorant composition by a convenient method, and shows no decrease in the deodorizing performance even after a long period of time, once the deodorant being prepared. Specifically, there is provided a deodorant composition containing, as the active component, a colored compound obtainable by reacting a polyphenol in a solvent showing alkalinity in the coexistence of an oxygen molecule at a reaction pH value of 6.5 or more. As a substitute for a polyphenol, use can be made of a plant extract containing a polyphenol but containing substantially no amino acid. It is also possible to further employ an amino acid. Furthermore, use can be made of a plant extract and/or a plant body containing a polyphenol and an amino acid.