The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C12H18O2, contains two independent molecules. They differ only slightly in conformation but form completely different intermolecular hydrogen-bonded arrays. One molecule exhibits disorder in the hydroxy group region, but this does not influence the formation of hydrogen bonds. The bulky tert-butyl group on one side of the carbinol C atom and the benzene ring on the other side promote the formation of discrete dimeric motifs via hydrogen-bridged hydroxy groups. Dimers are further joined by strong hydroxy-methoxy O-H...O bonds to form chains with dangling alcohol groups. Weaker intermolecular C-H...O interactions mediate the formation of a two-dimensional network.