Immature Litsea mollis fruits (ILMFs) are widely used as cold appetizers and seasonings in China. The free and bound volatile components of ILMFs from five distinct regions of China were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) combined with headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME) in the present work. The results reveal sixty six free-form volatiles and fifty two bound-form volatiles in ILMFs and terpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated terpenes are the dominate components. In addition, sixty-seven volatile compounds are found in Litsea mollis fruit for the first time. The free α-pinene, eucalyptol, linalool, α,β-citral, geraniol and citronellal, and bound β-myrcene, α-citral, geraniol, citronellal and eugenol are the major odor contributors of ILMFs. Multivariate statistical analysis indicates that the free and bound volatiles profiles of ILMFs of Fujian and Guangxi in southern China are similar and those of Yunnan and Sichuan in southwestern China are similar. The odor profiles of all of the ILMFs are floral, fruity and herbaceous.
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