Comparative studies were performed toward adsorption kinetics and equilibrium of phenylethyl alcohol (PEA) onto three typical types (F400D, CAL, and 207CX) of granular activated carbons (GAC). The effective diffusion coefficients were of the order of 10(-12) m(2).s(-1) for PEA adsorption on the GAC at 298 K. Desorption ratios of PEA from GAC were 92.2-99.9% achieved by methanol in batch mode at 298 K. Among the GAC employed, the carbon CAL proved to be superior in terms of physical properties as well as adsorption capacity and rate toward PEA. Dynamic adsorption was investigated using this optimal activated carbon. The maximum bed saturation capacity toward PEA was 2.471 mmol.g(-1) under optimal conditions (GAC mass 10.01 g, inlet concentration 4.391 mmol.kg(-1), flow rate 6.5 X 10(-3) kg.min(-1), temperature 298 K). The Yoon-Nelson model best described breakthrough data of PEA on GAC bed, whereas Yan and Clark models gave a relatively poor fit. The outcome of this work will facilitate adsorptive recovery of PEA from rose hydrolate byproduct using GAC.