A preparation is described comprising one or more alcohols of the formula (I), wherein in each case one of the two moieties Ra or Rb represents hydrogen and the other moiety Ra or Rb in each case represents a straight-chain or branched acyl moiety having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and one or more further compounds, wherein the preparation is an O/W emulsion, the particle size distribution for which the following applies: D(v, 0.9)=40 μm or less, wherein in the preparation the total quantity of the alcohol(s) of the formula (I) is selected in such a way that the O/W emulsion, compared to a comparison emulsion which having an otherwise identical composition does not comprise any alcohol of the formula (I), has an increased emulsion stability, and/or wherein the preparation is a surfactant-containing preparation and the total quantity of the alcohol(s) of the formula (I) in the preparation is selected in such a way that the preparation, compared to a comparison preparation which having an otherwise identical composition does nor comprise any alcohol of the formula (I), has an increased viscosity at 22.7° C.