摘要: In this study, the effect of volatile organic acids on the expression of cigarette smoke sensory characteristics was investigated by evaluating the odor activity values (OAVs) of selected organic acids. The OAVs of the organic acids were calculated by the ratio of the organic acid contents in the mainstream cigarette smoke determined by GC-MS and their threshold values using the sensory evaluation method of functional thresholds for tobacco flavors. The results showed that the functional thresholds of 14 volatile organic acids were in the narrow range of 1.93×10^-9 and 4.61×10^-8 μg/cig. The total content of 14 volatile organic acids in mainstream smoke was 56.98 μg/cig, and acetic acid was the highest(33.54 μg/cig)and accounted for 58.86% of the total content. Isovaleric acid and valeric acid were 5.17 and 4.06 μg/cig(9.07% and 7.12% of the total content), respectively. According to the OAV, acetic acid(with an acid aroma note)could play a major role in the expression of cigarette aroma characteristics. Isovaleric acid, valeric acid and 4-methylvaleric acid(with a cheesy and fruity aroma note) and decanoic acid (with a fatty wax aroma note) were also important for expressing cigarette smoke's aroma characteristics.