The optimal phase-matching directions of benzophenone crystals were calculated and chosen as growth orientations for the type-I and II nonlinear optical interactions. Oriented crystals with faces normal to the optimal phase-matching directions were grown directly in a quartz glass crystallizer from undercooled melts using a seed holder to control the relative orientation between the seed and the crystallizer. The grown crystals were characterized employing X-ray diffraction analysis and UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometry. The results show that benzophenone crystals grown by the oriented growth from undercooled melts are suitable for application as nonlinear optical devices without cutting. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.