A carbonyl compound scavenger comprising a mineral acid salt of a benzylhydroxyamine-based compound of the formula (1) and at least one adsorbent selected from the group consisting of silica gel, alumina, cellulose and activated carbon: ##STR00001## [wherein, R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, haloalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, haloalkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, nitro group or cyano group, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent each independently a hydrogen atom or alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom on a benzene ring to which a cyano group and R are connected may be substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, haloalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, haloalkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, nitro group or cyano group.].