Provided that a method for inexpensively producing optically active .alpha.-ionone with a high yield and a high asymmetric yield and with good workability in a short process, and a perfume composition comprising the optically active .alpha.-ionone obtained by the aforementioned method. A method for producing optically active .alpha.-ionone, comprising allowing .alpha.-ionone as a mixture of optical isomers to react with an esterification agent, and hydrolyzing the obtained .alpha.-ionone enol ester; a method for producing optically active .alpha.-ionone comprising subjecting .alpha.-ionone as a mixture of optical isomers to an asymmetric reduction, allowing the obtained optically active .alpha.-ionol to react with an esterification agent to give an optically active .alpha.-ionol ester, hydrolyzing the obtained optically active .alpha.-ionol ester after purification as necessary, and then oxidizing the obtained optically active .alpha.-ionol; and a perfume composition comprising thus obtained optically active .alpha.-ionone.