The invention relates to a method for preparing a selective hydrogenation catalyst, the active phase of which includes at least one Group VIII metal, and at least one substrate consisting of at least one oxide, wherein said method includes: a) at least a step of preparing a solution containing at least one precursor of said Group VIII metal and at least one additive, said precursor and said additive being added during the preparation of the solution with an additive/Group VIII metal molar ratio of less than or equal to 1.5; b) at least a step of impregnating said substrate with the solution prepared in step a); c) at least a step of drying the impregnated substrate from step b); and d) at least a step of calcining the dried substrate from step c) so as to obtain at least said Group VIII metal in an oxide form. The invention also relates to a hydrogenation method implementing said catalyst. The additives are organic compounds having one to three carboxylic acid functions, preferably carboxylic acids selected from among glycine, aspartic acid, citric acid, and tartric acid. The catalyst obtained by this specific preparation method has catalytic performance that is enhanced in terms of selectivity while still having high activity.