The essential oils from Burley 21 tobacco was isolated by using the SDE (Simultaneous Distillation & Extraction) apparatus coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Burley 21 tobaccos were divided and collected by six stages at intervals of five days during air-curing process. Air curing was conducted with horizontal hanging method in greenhouse settled by shading materials. 55 components were identified by comparisons of retention indices and mass spectral data, including 22 hydrocarbons, 6 alcohols, 3 aldehydes, 9 ketones and 15 miscellaneous compounds. Neophytadiene was the major components of the oils and almost all hydrocarbons were gradually decreased during air-curing process. Most of alcohols were also diminished, on the contrary, 1-pentanol and benzyl alcohol among them were increased. Aldehydes and ketones were increased during air-curing and especially, the concentrations of solanone, $eta$-damascone, $eta$-damascenone and megastigmatrienones were much increased. Indole level of miscellaneous compounds were continuously increased during air-curing of Burley 21 tobacco.