The enzyme, characterized from the plant Antirrhinum majus (snapdragon), is involved in biosynthesis of 7-epi-iridoids such as antirrhinoside. The enzyme catalyses the stereospecific reduction of 8-oxogeranial, forming an unstable product that in the absence of additional cylases undergoes spontaneous cyclization to (-)-cis,trans-nepetalactol. cf. EC 1.3.1.122, (S)-8-oxocitronellyl enol synthase.