[6] 1-Phenylethanol is found in nature as a glycoside, together with its hydrolase β-primeverosidase in tea (Camellia sinensis) flowers.

[7] It is also reportedly present in cranberries, grapes, chives, Scottish spearmint oil, cheeses, cognac, rum, white wine, cocoa, black tea, filbert, cloudberries, beans, mushrooms, and endives.

Alternatively, benzaldehyde can be reacted with methylmagnesium chloride or similar organometallic compounds to afford racemic 1-phenylethanol.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenone by Noyori catalysts proceeds quantitatively (50 atm H2, room temperature, minutes) in >99% e.e.

Used for the epoxidation of propene, this coproduces propylene oxide, and is an important step in the PO/SM process for the production of styrene.