Two binary mixtures were prepared, based on three members of the homologous series of 4-n-alkoxyphenyl esters of the 4’-n-alkoxybenzoic acids. Three structurally different chiral compounds were used to make novel ternary and four-component mixtures with chiral smectic C phase. The phase diagrams of two-component, the ternary and four-component mixtures are presented and the corresponding physical and electro-optical properties such as spontaneous polarization, tilt angle and switching time are discussed. Spontaneous polarization values up to 200 nC/cm(2) were found and two distinct modes of electro-optical switching, associated with different stages of helix distortion, were observed.