Novel benzonitriles, benzaldehydes and benzyl alcohols of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is methyl or ethyl, R.sup.2 is alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, bicycloalkyl, bicycloalkenyl, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, bicycloalkyl or bicycloalkenyl, X is hydrogen, chlorine or fluorine and Z is --CN, CHO or ##STR2## where R.sup.3 is hydrogen, cyano, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 -alkynyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 -alkenyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, with the proviso that R.sup.2 is not --CH.sub.2 -CH.dbd.CH--B when B is hydrogen, alkyl or alkenyl and at the same time R.sup.1 is methyl and Z is ##STR3## and with the proviso that R.sup.2 is not methyl or ethyl when R.sup.1 is methyl and at the same time Z is ##STR4## and further more with the proviso that R.sup.2 is not methyl when R.sup.1 is methyl or ethyl and at the same time Z is --CN or --CHO.