Abstract: In this paper, the effects of drying methods of plant materials on essential oil extraction were summarized, the principles, advantages and disadvantages of distillation method, supercritical CO₂ fluid extraction method, microwave assisted extraction method and ultrasonic assisted extraction method were introduced, the research progress of essential oil of Dendrobium officinale was reviewed, and some suggestions about its main research directions were put forward in order to provide references for further research and utilization of Dendrobium officinale.