Exhibit 10.17


      FORM OF NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT (SAR) AWARD

NAME OF EMPLOYEE:

NAME OF PLAN:          2006 ASHLAND INC. INCENTIVE PLAN

NUMBER OF SAR'S:

GRANT PRICE PER SAR:   $ XX.XX

DATE OF SAR GRANT:

EXERCISE SCHEDULE:     50% OR XX ON
                       25% OR XX ON
                       25% OR XX ON

EXPIRATION DATE:

ASHLAND INC ("Ashland")  hereby confirms the grant of a Stock  Appreciation
Right ("SAR") award  ("Award") to the  above-named  Employee  ("Employee").
This Award entitles  Employee to receive  Ashland stock equal to the excess
of the fair market value of Ashland Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
("Common Stock"), as determined by the closing price of the Common Stock as
reported on the Composite Tape of the New York Stock Exchange,  on the date
the SAR is  exercised  over the grant  price of the Common  Stock,  with an
aggregate  value equal to the excess of the fair market  value of one share
of Common Stock over the exercise price specified in such SAR multiplied by
the number of SARs of Common Stock  covered by such SAR or portion  thereof
which is so surrendered.

This  Award  is  granted  under,  and is  subject  to,  all the  terms  and
conditions  of the Plan.  Copies  of the Plan and  related  Prospectus  are
available for your review on  FirstHand,  Ashland's  intranet  site. If you
would  prefer to have a hard copy of  either of these  documents  mailed to
you, please contact Corporate Human Resources at (859) 357-7996.

PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE OF GRANT, BY SIGNING, DATING
AND RETURNING  THE ENCLOSED COPY OF THIS NOTICE OF GRANT TO KAREN  WILLETT,
CORPORATE HUMAN RESOURCES,  LA-1N, ON OR BEFORE  _____________________,  OR
THE AWARD WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID.

ASHLAND INC.

By:

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DATE:                                         EMPLOYEE:

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      FORM OF NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT (SAR) AWARD

NAME OF EMPLOYEE:

NAME OF PLAN:          2006 Ashland Inc. Incentive Plan

NUMBER OF SAR'S:

GRANT PRICE PER SAR:   $ XX.XX

DATE OF SAR GRANT:

EXERCISE SCHEDULE:     50% OR XX ON
                       25% OR XX ON
                       25% OR XX ON

EXPIRATION DATE:

ASHLAND INC ("Ashland")  hereby confirms the grant of a Stock  Appreciation
Right ("SAR") award  ("Award") to the  above-named  Employee  ("Employee").
This Award entitles  Employee to receive  Ashland stock equal to the excess
of the fair market value of Ashland Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
("Common Stock"), as determined by the closing price of the Common Stock as
reported on the Composite Tape of the New York Stock Exchange,  on the date
the SAR is  exercised  over the grant  price of the Common  Stock,  with an
aggregate  value equal to the excess of the fair market  value of one share
of Common Stock over the exercise price specified in such SAR multiplied by
the number of SARs of Common Stock  covered by such SAR or portion  thereof
which is so surrendered.  Any Section 16 corporate  officer or director (as
defined by Section 16 of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934) who acquires
Company  shares via an  exercise  of this SAR grant is required to retain a
minimum of 50% of the net shares acquired for a minimum period of 12 months
or such earlier time as the individual ceases to be a section 16 officer or
director of the company as a result of death,  resignation,  termination or
other reason.

This  Award  is  granted  under,  and is  subject  to,  all the  terms  and
conditions  of the Plan.  Copies  of the Plan and  related  Prospectus  are
available for your review on  FirstHand,  Ashland's  intranet  site. If you
would  prefer to have a hard copy of  either of these  documents  mailed to
you, please contact Corporate Human Resources at (859) 357-7996.

PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE OF GRANT, BY SIGNING, DATING
AND RETURNING  THE ENCLOSED COPY OF THIS NOTICE OF GRANT TO KAREN  WILLETT,
CORPORATE HUMAN RESOURCES,  LA-1N, ON OR BEFORE  _____________________,  OR
THE AWARD WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID.

ASHLAND INC.

By:

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DATE:                                         EMPLOYEE:

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