Increasing the oil volume in the oil : water mixtures using isopropyl myristate, oleic acid as oils, the solubilities of methyl, propyl and butyl parabens and the MICs (minimum hibitory concentrations) to E. coli were increased. But in liquid paraffin, the solubility was reversed. The relation between MIC and solubility of parabens had constant factor of 0.7 as saturation fraction percent. The solubility of methyl paraben was crossed over in those of propyl and butyl parabens, when the oil volume was increased. When the oil was used over the cross-over point, methyl paraven was useful to preserve the systems, and below the cross-over point the more lipophilic propyl and/or butyl parabens were effective.