Six HPLC methods for the analysis of tobacco smoke are described in this study. These methods allow then determination of 22 main components of cigarette smoke: The volatile carbonyl compounds are analysed after reaction with 2,4 DNPH (2,4 dinitrophenylhydrazine). The analysis is performed by reversed phase HPLC using a C18 column with a gradient of solvents. Six compounds are determined with this method: formaldehyde, acetaldehyde (ethanal, propionaldehyde (propanal, acrolein (propenal), acetone and butanone; The alpha dicarbonyl compounds are analysed after conversion to the corresponding quinoxalines using ortho-phenylenediamine as reagent. The derivatives are separated in normal phase HPLC on a silica column in isocratic mode. Four compounds are determined with this method: glyoxal, methylglyoxal, diacetyl and 2,3 pentanedione; The aliphatic acids are converted to the corresponding esters with para-bromophenacyl bromide as reagent. The derivatives are separated in reversed phase HPLC with a gradient of solvents. Three acids are determined with this method : formic acid, acetic acid and lactic acid (glycolic acid may be determined with the other acids, but it was not considered in this study); The monophenols are derivatized with 4 aminoantipyrine (4 amino 1,5 dimethyl 2 phenyl 3 pyrazolone). The derivatives are separated in normal phase HPLC on a silica column with isocratic elution. Four compounds are determined with this method: phenol, o + m cresols, gaïacol and 3-hydroxypyridine; The diphenols are derivatised with n butylamine and analysed in normal phase HPLC on a silica column with isocratic elution. Hydroquinone and catechol are determined with this method; The aliphatic amines are derivatised with NBD-Cl (4 chloro 7 nitrobenzo, 2 oxa 1,3 diazole) and analysed on a silica column with isocratic elution. Methyl amine, dimethyl amine and pyrrolidine are determined with this method. In all cases, direct UV detection is used. Thirty-seven commercial cigarette brands were sampled in the European Union (EU) and Switzerland in 1992 and their smoke was analysed with the 6 HPLC methods. The obtained results were then analysed by a combination of different data analysis methods (Principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering and discriminent analysis). The studied samples can be classified into 6 groups of cigarettes and it was demonstrated that 7 determinations are su.fficient to realize this classification. These determinations are: catechol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, lactic acid, gaïacol, methyl glyoxal and 3-hydroxypyridine.