A separation medium consisting of a cyclodextrin metal-organic framework (CD- MOF) for separating aromatic compounds and methods of preparing the same are presented. The method includes one of the following procedures. A bottom-up preparation includes the following steps: (a) preparing a first mixture comprising a cyclodextrin, an alkali metal salt, water and an alcohol; (b) performing one of the following two steps: (i) stirring the first mixture; or (ii) adding an amount of a surfactant to the first mixture to form a second mixture; and (c) crystallizing the CD-MOF from the first mixture or the second mixture. A top-down preparation includes the following steps: (a) preparing a first mixture comprising the cyclodextrin, an alkali metal salt, water and an alcohol; (b) crystallizing the CD-MOF from the first mixture; and (c) optionally performing particle size reduction of the crystallized CD-MOF. The CD-MOFs are amenable for use in methods for separating alkylaromatic compounds and haloaromatic compounds from a mixture of hydrocarbons.