A composition having effective broad spectrum preservation activity comprising a mixture of caprylyl glycol or one or more analogs thereof, or mixtures thereof with a preservative selected from the group consisting of: (1) chloroxylenol and 2-phenoxyethanol, (2) chloroxylenol and chlorphenesin, (3) chlorphenesin and 2-phenoxyethanol, and (4) chloroxylenol, chlorphenesin and 2-phenoxyethanol.