A process for the prevention and/or retardation of the putrefaction of skins, hides, or pelts of animals comprises treating a skin, hide, or pelt from a freshly slaughtered animal which has not yet been tanned or tawed, with a liquified composition consisting essentially of a nonnecrotic sclerosing fatty acid salt, ethyl alcohol, a buffering agent and water carrier. This patent is a continuation-in-part of US 3 741 204. -- AATA