In this study special combined performance filters (SPCF) were prepared by adding polyethylene glycol/acetylpropionic acid/trithylene glycol diacetate to cellulose plug paper. The effect of SPCF on the selective removal of phenol from cigarette smoke was studied in detail. The results showed that SCPF filters modified by a single additive or multi-additives had a high ability to selectively remove phenol in tobacco smoke. The more the additives on cellulose paper, the higher effect on the percentage phenol removed. It was also found that SCPF filters gave a high and permanent level of phenol removal when they were aged for 8 weeks. Optimal results were obtained when the additive acetylpropionic acid on cellulose paper was 9±0.5 g/m², where phenol was significantly reduced up to 33.31%, whereas the delivery of tar was nearly unaffected (only reduced by 2.61%). In addition, in vitro toxicology tests of cigarette smoke indicated that: SCPF filter modified by acetylpropionic acid was helpful to improve the safety of smoke. Moreover, the sensory assessment of samples indicated that the samples with SCPF filters kept the original taste and style. This finding is significant for the selective removal of harmful components in tobacco smoke.