In order to detect the volatile components , identify the aroma active substances, and screen the excellent aromatic varieties of Brachyceras water lilies, Headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPEM-GC-MS) was conducted to detect volatile compounds in 30 cultivars of Brachyceras water lilies. The results showed that a total of 60 volatile compounds including alkanes, alkenes, terpenes, benzenoids, esters, alcohols and aldehydes were identified. Among them, alkanes and alkenes were the main categories, accounting for 42.43% and 28.61% of the total content, respectively. However, these compounds have trace fragrance characteristics. Furthermore, 19 aroma active compounds were screened by the aroma activity value (OAV). Among them, α-ionone, β-ionone, trans-β-ionone and farnesene were considered as the key characteristic aroma compounds with OAV>1. Ionone endowed water lily woody and sweet fragrance, farnesene endowed apple and typical floral aroma. The results showed that five water lily varieties, 'Blue Bird', 'Carla's Sunshine', 'Eidorado', 'Ruby' and 'Pink Diamond', which were screened based on the OAV value, were potential excellent varieties for landscape application and product processing.