Benzyl alcohols were oxidized with oxygen to aldehydes in excellent yields with high selectivities at room temperature. Dual catalysis was operative with HNO3 as the oxidant and precursor of the nitrogen oxides and with the use of 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propanol as a template catalyst and solvent. Fluorinated alcohols also increased the selectivity by inhibiting further oxidation to benzoic acids. Activation of nitric acid catalyzed aerobic oxidation by the fluorinated solvent made the use of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO) or a metal catalyst superfluous.