a process is disclosed for the production of an alkyl glycoside stable in hue and odor , which comprises the steps of reacting a sugar with alcohol to obtain an alkyl glycoside reaction product containing a higher alcohol , decoloring the alkyl glycoside reaction product with hydrogen peroxide , contacting the decolored alkyl glycoside with a metal / hydrogen complex represented by formula m . sub . z wherein m is an alkali metal , ca , zn or 4 n ; and z is 1 when m is an alkali metal or 4 n and z is 2 when m is ca or zn ; to substantially eliminate residual hydrogen peroxide , and then decomposing the remaining metal / hydrogen complex with an acid .