To provide a method for purifying -phenylethyl alcohol with which an off-flavor component produced in a purifying column is efficiently and selectively separated and removed only by simple operation without requiring a complicated apparatus or operation and the high-purity -phenylethyl alcohol having an excellent fragrance for perfumes can be obtained.

The method for purifying the -phenylethyl alcohol with which the -phenylethyl alcohol to be purified is fed to a rectifying column and the -phenylethyl alcohol purified as a side cut is obtained. The fraction obtained from the column top of the rectifying column is preferably recycled to a light-boiling separation step from aspects that the loss of the -phenylethyl alcohol in the overhead component can be suppressed.