In various embodiments compositions that inactivates a virus or inhibit replication of a virus are provided where the compositions comprise a C1-C10 alcohol an acid selected from the group consisting of gallic acid, methyl gallate, 3,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, salicylic acid, luteic acid, and eudesmic acid and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier where the pH of said composition is pH 4.5 or lower. In certain embodiments the alcohol comprises one or more alcohols selected from the group consisting of ethanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, 1-propanol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, and 1,4-butanediol, butyl alcohol (including n-butanol, sec-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol), pentanol, hexadecan-1-ol, ethane-1,2-diol, propane-1,2-diol, propane-1,2,3-triol, butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol, pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol, hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol, heptane-1,2,3,4,5,6,7-heptol, prop-2-ene-1-ol, 3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-ol, prop-2-in-1-ol, cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol, and 2-(2-propyl)-5-methyl-cyclohexane-1-ol.
