Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the oxidation of santalene to santalol. The starting material is in particular a mixture comprising alpha-santalene, beta-santalene, epi-beta-santalene, trans-alpha-bergamotene and beta-bisabolene. The oxidation of the santalenes occurs via an intermediate chloro-santalene compound. Substitution of the chloro-substituent by acetate yielded the mixture of the corresponding santalyl actates, which were hydrolyzed to yield the corresponding mixture of santalols.