Abstract: In order to determine the residual solvents (or called volatile organic compounds, VOCs) in solvent based printing ink for cigarette trade mark (including cigarette packaging materials carton packets, packaging and tipping paper and etc.), a new head space-gas chromatographic method was established. The printing ink test sample of a given area and thickness was made, then hanged in a laboratory with given temperature (25±1)℃ and relative humidity (65±5)% for 2 h. The sample was packed into a head-space bottle which was capped tightly and heated 45 min at 80℃. After gas-solid equilibrium, the volatile gas part was injected into head space-gas chromatography and determined. The calculating result was represented in mg/m². This method is rapid, simple, and with high sensitivity and well repeatability (RSD<2%). It can be applied to determine the residual solvents in solvent based printing ink for cigarette trade mark with good results.