Abstract: OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of different drying methods on the essential oil from Plumeria rubra L. var. actifolia Bailey. METHODS To extract the essential oil by steam distillation, separate and identify by GC-MS. The relative contents in percentage were calculated with area normalization method. RESULTS Essential oil extraction rates were 0.15%, 0.05% and 0.02% for fresh, drying in the shade and drying in the sun samples, respectively. In 58 substances, 28 were identified from Plumeria rubra L. var. actifolia Bailey, such as d-nerolidol, farnesol, benzyl benzoate, geranyl benzoate, neryl linalool isomer and α-terpinyl isovalerate. CONCLUSION The Plumeria rubra L. var. actifolia Bailey drying in the shade is better than drying in the sun. It is favorable to keep the content of the essential oil and reduce toxicity. The essential oil of Plumeria rubra L. var. actifolia Bailey is easily affected by sunshine, temperature and storage time. Standard operation is very important in production.