A process for producing ethylphenols which comprises (1) the oxidation of diethylbenzene by passing a molecular oxygen containing gas into contact with said diethylbenzene at a temperature between 100* and 180*C to convert 5 to 30 percent of said diethylbenzene into diethylbenzene hydroperoxide, (2) withdrawing the reaction mixture, separating the unconverted diethylbenzene therefrom to obtain a hydroperoxide concentrate containing at least 40 percent of diethylbenzene hydroperoxide, (3) mixing the diethylbenzene hydroperoxide concentrate with a solvent selected from the group consisting of low molecular weight aliphatic alcohols, ketones and mixtures thereof, (4) decomposing said hydroperoxide by intimate contact with a strong acid which is used in an amount of between 0.05 and 5 percent of the weight of total reaction mixture, and neutralizing the resulting mixture, and (5) distilling the neutralized mixture to recover a bottom fraction containing ethylphenol and a top fraction containing acetaldehyde.