Antimicrobially active 4-methyl-4-aryl-2-pentanols of the Formula 1 below, methods for the preparation of these compounds and their use as antimicrobial active compounds are described. ##STR00001## Surprisingly, compounds of the Formula 1 for which: R=hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy group with up to 10 C atoms, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl with up to 10 C atoms, alkylthioether group with up to 10 C atoms, the alkylthioether group being bonded to the aromatic ring via a thioether bridge, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, or alkyl with up to 10 C atoms that is interrupted by one or more oxygen and/or sulphur atoms, have proved to be antimicrobially active.