Abstract: Essential oil of Chinese sweetgum (Liquidambar formosana Hance) resins from Jiangxi, Guangxi and Guizhou provinces of China were obtained through steam distillation. The chemical components of essential oil were analyzed by GC-MS.Twenty-three compounds were separated and identified. There are 9 kinds of monoterpinenes, 9 kinds of sesquiterpinenes and 5 kinds of other components. The chemical components and contents of monoterpinenes were similar. Pinenes contents were all as high as 40% to 55%, but chemical components and contents of sesquiterpinenes were different. The content of β-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide in the essential oil from Guizhou Province was as high as 30%.

Key words: essential oil of Chinese sweetgum resin, GC-MS analysis, chemical component