An electret filter media that includes a thermoplastic resin and a compound of the formula Y.sup.2-A(R.sup.1).sub.n--Y.sup.1, where A is benzene, naphthalene or anthracene, Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are each independently R.sup.2-R.sup.3, R.sup.2 is an ester linking group or an amide linking group, R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, R.sup.1 is R.sup.2-R.sup.3 where R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently as defined above, and when A is benzene, n is from 0 to 4, when A is naphthalene, n is from 0 to 6, and when A is anthracene, n is from 0 to 8.