A method of purifying 2,6-dimethylphenol to remove the odorous impurities includes distilling a crude mixture to yield a first light fraction enriched in 2,6-dimethylphenol, and a first heavy fractionenriched in 2,4,6-trimethylanisole, and distilling the first light fraction to yield a second light fraction, and a second heavy fraction enriched in 2,6-dimethylphenol. The concentration of 2,4,6-trimethylanisole in the second heavy fraction is less than 50% of the concentration of 2,4,6-trimethylanisole in the mixture. The purified 2,6-dimethylphenol is useful for preparing low-odor poly(aryleneether) resins.