Objective To distinguish Rhizoma curcuma of different origins using headspace-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS) combined with principal components analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), so as to help the quality control of Rhizoma curcuma. Methods HP-5 capillary column (30 m×0.32 mm, 0.25 μm) was used under the following condition: inlet temperature: 250℃, initial column temperature: 50℃ maintained for 3 min, then increasing to 150℃ at 20℃/min and to 200℃ at 2℃/min, maintained for 10 min, with the split ratio being 101. The carrier gas was helium, with flow rate being 1.0 mL/min, hadspace vials regional temperature being 90℃, vials heating equilibration time being 30 min, and injection volume being 1.5 mL. The effect of extract separation conditions, temperature of the vial and equilibrium time on the extraction volatile components of Rhizoma curcuma were observed. Results PCA could distinguish 18 common peaks of 15 batches of Rhizoma curcuma from Sichuan, Guangxi and Yunnan, and it was confirmed that β-elemene, camphene, β-pinene, p-menth-1-en-8-ol, eucalyptol, and cycloisolongifolene, 8,9-dehydro-9-formyl were the main components to cause differences in Rhizoma curcuma of different origins. Conclusion We have established a method combining HS-GC/MS with PCA and HCA to distinguish Rhizoma curcuma of different origins, and we have also identified the major characteristic components of Rhizoma curcuma of different origins.