Mid-infrared extinction spectra (500-6000cm^-1^) of a series of single-component aerosol particle ensembles representative of those found in a range of planetary and lunar atmospheres are presented. The aerosols were generated in the laboratory via condensation from the gas phase in a bath gas cooling cell, and the spectra recorded using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. This paper is the first in a series aimed towards building a spectral database for use in remote sensing of aerosols. The aerosol substances included here are methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, ethylene, acetylene, carbon dioxide, ammonia and sulfur dioxide.