Abstract: To investigate the effect of lutein on the smoking quality of cigarettes, the lutein was pyrolysed in various surroundings (N₂, 10% O₂+90% N₂, and air) at 300℃, 600℃ and 900℃, respectively. The pyrolytic products adsorbed by solid phase microextraction were analyzed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and lutein was applied to cigarettes as a flavor. The results showed that:1) in all pyrolytic environments and temperatures, the major components of pyrolytic products were tolune, p-xylene, 1, 2-dihydro-1, 1, 6-trimethylnaphthalene, 2, 7-dimethylnaphthalene, etc., and the minor components were isophorone, megastigmatrienone, aldehydes, alkenes, etc.; 2) the kind and relative content of pyrolytic products changed with the change of temperatures, while the influence of environment was negligible; 3) lutein adding would enhance the aroma of cigarette smoke, but increase the offensive odor and irritantcy, and deteriorate the aftertaste. Therefore, the addition of lutein was not beneficial to improve the smoking quality of cigarette.