A method for producing menthol

Method for the production of menthol optically active from geraniol or nerol or mixtures of geraniol and nerol in which a) is hydrogenated enantioselectively geraniol or nerol or mixtures of geraniol and nerol to give optically active citronellol, b) reacting the optically active citronellol thus obtained to give optically active citronellal, c) the optically active citronellal thus obtained to a mixture of substances containing isopulegol optically active d) the optically active substance mixture isopulegol thus obtained is separated becomes cycle and will hydrogenated to optically active menthol or optically active isopulegol present in the mixture of substances thus obtained to optically active menthol and optically active menthol thus obtained is separated from the mixture of substances obtained as the hydrogenation product is hydrogenated.