The NLO single crystals of hippuric acid were grown by solvent evaporation solution growth method at room temperature using acetone as the solvent. The initial compound was purified by repeated recrystallisation process. The grown crystal was characterised by XRD, FTIR, mass and Laser RAMAN spectra analyses. Its mechanical properties were analysed by Vicker's microhardness method and the transmittance was examined by UV-Vis measurements. The second harmonic generation behaviour was tested by Nd: YAG laser as a source. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.