Interfacial tension between the two phases formed by the partially miscible system composed of butanol-l and water has been investigated. Using the method of drop volume tensiometry, the effect of a surface-active agent, sodium dodecyl sulfate, on interfacial tension was investigated. Addition of surfactant to the butanol-rich phase, which forms the droplet, has been found to bring about a decrease in interfacial tension the magnitude of which was influenced by the time of contact. When the surfactant was added to the aqueous (bulk) phase, the decrease in interfacial tension was greater and it was equal to that observed when the surfactant was added to both phases. It is concluded that the orientation of phases in the instrument has an important effect on the apparent interfacial tension observed.