Abstract: A Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopic detection platform was built for the analysis of mainstream cigarette smoke, and the mid-infrared spectral characteristics and fingerprints of mainstream smoke of four cigarette brands and the vapor phase components were investigated. The results showed that: 1) The spectral peak shapes and positions of the mainstream smoke vapor phase components of the four samples were similar, indicating that the types of chemical groups in the mainstream smoke vapor phase components of the four cigarette brands were similar. 2) There were significant differences in the mid-infrared spectra of the vapor phase components of mainstream cigarette smoke in the ranges 3 185-2 581 cm^-1 (P < 0.05), 1 760-1 650 cm^-1 (P < 0.05) and 950-900 cm^-1 (P < 0.01). 3) The mid-infrared spectra of mainstream cigarette smoke differed in the ranges 3 700-3 550 cm^-1 (P < 0.01), 3 185-2 581 cm^-1 (P < 0.01), 1 460-1 150 cm^-1 (P < 0.001), 1 080-1 040 cm^-1 (P < 0.001), and 950-900 cm^-1 (P < 0.01). 4) In the ranges 3 740-3 730, 2 387-2 383, 2 293-2 280, 1 768-1 718 and 706-694 cm^-1, the releases of vapor phase components of mainstream cigarette smoke were higher than that of mainstream smoke, and in the ranges 3 040-2 830, 1 460-1 350, 1 300-1 200, 1 140-980, 940-845 and 692-648 cm^-1, the releases of vapor phase components of mainstream smoke were lower than that of mainstream smoke. This method is simple, reproducible, and fast for analyzing the spectral characteristics of mainstream cigarette smoke.