A preservation system comprising: i. itaconic acid or salt thereof and ii. an aromatic alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethylvanillin, eugenol, thymol, P-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4n butyl phenol, P-hydroxyacetophenone, vanillin, salicylic acid or salt thereof, o-cymen-5-ol, carvacrol and mixtures thereof.