Exhibit 23


                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
(Form  S-8  No.   33-52125)   pertaining  to  the  Ashland  Inc.   Deferred
Compensation  and Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee  Directors,  in the
Registration  Statement  (Form S-8 No.  2-95022)  pertaining to the Ashland
Inc.  Amended Stock Incentive Plan for Key Employees,  in the  Registration
Statement  (Form S-8 No. 33-7501)  pertaining to the Ashland Inc.  Employee
Savings  Plan,  in the  Registration  Statement  (Form  S-8  No.  33-26101)
pertaining  to  the  Ashland  Inc.   Long-Term   Incentive   Plan,  in  the
Registration  Statement (Form S-8 No.  33-55922)  pertaining to the Ashland
Inc. 1993 Stock Incentive Plan, in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No.
33-49907) pertaining to the Ashland Inc. Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership
Plan, in the Registration  Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-62901)  pertaining to
the  Ashland  Inc.  Deferred  Compensation  Plan,  and in the  Registration
Statement (Form S-3 No.  33-57011) as amended by  Post-Effective  Amendment
No. 1, pertaining to the U.S.  $200,000,000 Ashland Inc. Medium-Term Notes,
Series G, and  3,000,000  shares of  Ashland  Inc.  common  stock,  and the
related  Prospectus,  of our report dated November 6, 1996, with respect to
the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  schedule of Ashland Inc. and
subsidiaries  included in the Annual  Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
September 30, 1996.



                                           Ernst & Young LLP


December 9, 1996