AIM: To establish the method of determining methylbenzene、dimethylbenzene、divinylbenzene、and phenylethene in gardenia extract. METHODS: The GC system consisted of DB-INNOWax capillary chromatographic column,nitrogen as the carrier gas,and FID as the detector. RESULTS: Methylbenzene was less than 890 mg/L,dimethylbenzene 2 170 mg/L,divinylbenzene and phenylethene 2000 mg/L,vespectively in gardenia extract. The average recoveries were within 96.8%~104.4%.The limits of detection were 0.125 mg/L-2.87 mg/L. CONCLUSION: The method is sensitive,accurate and reproducible,and it can be used to control the quality of gardenia extract.