The reaction parameters affecting the enzymatic synthesis of citronellyl acetate by direct esterification were studied. Reaction mixtures were prepared using 2 ml dry n-hexane, 0.1 M citronellol, 0.1 M acetic acid 10% (w/w) Candida antarctica lipase, SP435, incubated at 30 degrees C and 200 rev min(-1) for 24 h. A 98% molal conversion yield was achieved after 14 h incubation, the highest yield ever reported. Acetic acid concentrations >0.30 M inhibited the esterification activity of SP435. Optimum temperature was 20 degrees C, giving a yield of 98%. Addition of wafer to the reaction mixtures decreased the esterificatian activity of SP435. The highest yields were observed for solvents having log P values greater than or equal to 0.85. SP435 was able to give 95.6% conversion even after the tenth reuse, demonstrating its stability and efficiency under the conditions of this study.