Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the color and the stability of the color of carboxylic acid or a mixture of the same by treating the carboxylic acid or its mixture with a hydride-yielding substance at an elevated temperature and by distilling the mixture thus obtained. The color and the stability of the color of the distillate thus obtained are better than the corresponding quantities of a distillate of untreated carboxylic acid or an untreated mixture of the same. Sodium borohydride and lithium aluminum hydride are preferred hydride-yielding substances. The method according to the invention can be applied to all carboxylic acids, advantageously to fatty acids and resin acids.