A process for the preparation of resorcinol derivatives of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is carbalkoxy, nitrile, alkyl or H and R.sup.2 to R.sup.5 are H or lower alkyl, by reacting the corresponding cyclohexane-1,3-dione (II) with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalytic amount of a copper compound and of from 1 to 10 moles of a hydrogen halide, or from 0.5 to 5 moles of thionyl chloride per mole of II, in an alkanol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, tetrahydrofuran or methyl tert.-butyl ether as the solvent, at from 0.degree. to 150 C., without the addition of a significant amount of water to the reaction mixture. Some of the resorcinol derivatives prepared are useful scents with fragrance notes of the character of the odoriferous substance of natural oak moss.