Use of a mixture of (a) dodecanoic acid (lauric acid) (b) at least one other fatty acid, selected from the group of unbranched saturated fatty acids having a chain length of C.sub.6-20, at least one of the other fatty acids having to have a chain length of greater than C.sub.12, (c) glyceryl monocaprylate and/or glyceryl monocaprate (d) with omission of ethoxylated glyceryl fatty acid esters and propoxylated glyceryl fatty acid esters (e) in the pH range below 8 as active principle for the selective reduction of coryneform bacteria or as a deodorant active compound.