There is provided a process for the manufacture of phenolic compounds by separating a neutralized aralkyl hydroperoxide cleavage mass stream containing salts of neutralization into a crude ketone stream and a crude phenolic stream containing the salts of neutralization; separating the crude phenolic stream into a concentrated phenolic-rich stream, enriched in phenolic compounds, and a crude phenolic bottoms stream enriched in tars and alpha methyl styrene dimers, each compared to the crude phenolic stream, said crude phenolic bottoms stream containing salts of neutralization; to the crude phenolic bottoms stream, adding water and a diluent composition, thereby forming a phase separable crude phenolic bottoms stream, said diluent composition comprised of hydrocarbons phase compatible with the crude phenolic bottoms stream and having a combined density lower than the density of the crude phenolic bottoms stream; separating the separable crude phenolic bottoms stream into a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase containing salts of neutralization; whereby the amount of salts of neutralization in the hydrocarbon phase is reduced compared to the amount of salts of neutralization present prior to separation.