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