Abstract: In order to provide reference basis for selection and optimization of cutting width of cigarette formulation leaf group,the difference and change law of volatile organic acids of different cutting width cut tobacco before and after drying was studied using variance analysis and principal component analysis,respectively. Finally,sensory evaluation was carried out to verify outcomes of principal component analysis. Results showed that for the cut tobacco before and after drying,and cut tobacco of different cutting width after drying,their volatile organic acids content had significant differences at the leave of 0.05. Volatile organic acids content of cut tobacco after drying showed a decreasing trend compared with before drying.For the cut tobacco after drying,the volatile organic acids content showed a gradually decreasing trend with the increase of cutting width.In addition,there was a difference in cigarette sensory quality of different cutting width.Sensory quality showed a gradually decreasing trend with the increase of cutting width.In conclusion,the most suitable cutting width was 0.85 mm for leaf group formulation of the specification cigarette.The volatile organic acids content of cut tobacco after drying was highest and the sensory quality was optimal.