Objective: To analyze the composition and content of volatile components of Xinhui Pericarpium Citri Reticulate (PCR) of different storage time. Investigate the influence of storage time on the volatile components. Method: Twenty-two samples of different storage time (from 1983 to 2012) were analyzed by GC-MS. The correlation of the data and the storage time was studied through statistical analysis by function fiftting method. Result: The contents of the major components did not decrease dramatically with the storage time except 2-methylamino-benzoic acid methyl ester. It was found that the content ratio of β-myrcene to 2-methylamino-benzoic acid methyl ester changed logarithmically with the storage time. The correlation could reach more than 0.86. Conclusion: It was able to confirm that ‘longer storage time the better’for the PCR with the change of the contents of volatile components. However the content ratio of β-myrcene to 2-methylamino-benzoic acid methyl ester supply evidence for the identification of storage time of Xinhui PCR

and will improve the quality control of Xinhui PCR.