Abstract: The method of headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to detect the volatile components in the essential oil of Gardenia jasminoides fresh flower extracted by the steam distillation, in order to provide scientific basis for the development and utilization of the essential oil in the fresh flower of Gardenia jasminoides. 150 volatile components were isolated and identified from the essential oil of Gardenia jasminoides fresh flower. The relative total content of volatile components was 99.56%. The main components included terpenes, esters, alcohols, ketones, aromatics and so on. Among them, the number of terpenes was the highest, reaching 48 kinds, as well as the relative content was the highest (up to 38.89%). The volatile components with higher relative content were ocimene, linalool, (Z)-hex-3-enyl (E)-2-methylbut-2-enoate, hexyl tiglate and 2-methyl-1-butyl tiglate, with relative contents of 19.68%, 17.70%, 10.12%, 7.27% and 6.01%, respectively. The essential oil of Gardenia jasminoides fresh flower had abundant aroma, elegant and unique fragrance. Due to the existence of the active constituents such as alcohols, aldehydes, terpenes and so on, the essential oil of Gardenia jasminoides fresh flower possessed the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, and antianxiety properties.