Abstract: The present invention relates to a stabilized drying catalyst (‘drier’) for enhancing or accelerating oxidative air-drying of an alkyd-based composition, comprising an inclusion complex of a cyclodextrin and a metal salt of formula (Mx+)k(Rk?)?, wherein M is a transition or rare earth metal cation with charge x and R is an anion with charge k. The present invention preserves the catalytic activity of a drier, particularly upon addition to an alkyd composition, thus providing a method for stabilizing the drying time of the alkyd composition. A process for preparing the stabilized drier is also provided.