Nanocrystalline ZrO2, SnO2, and TiO2 were synthesized through a simple hydrolytic process based on the etherification of alcohols. The obtained products had good uniformity and were less aggregated than in other synthesis techniques. The synthesis of ZrO2 and SnO2 in this process was dependent mainly on the reaction temperature, whereas the morphologies of TiO2 exhibited a dependence on the alcohols used.