During citral hydrogenation, the products distribution obtained on Rh/TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 catalysts depends on their preparation and activation protocols: (i) the unsaturated alcohols (the intended products) are formed in higher quantity on samples reduced at 500 degrees C and more notably with Pt/TiO2 catalyst; (ii) samples prepared by impregnation of the metallic precursor salt in HCl medium and activated at 300 degrees C are the only ones to lead to the formation of isopulegol as by-product. On the catalysts activated at 500 degrees C, these results can be explained by the presence of the SMSI effect beneficial to hydrogenate selectively the C=O bond of citral towards unsaturated alcohols. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.