Meat from different species has a unique odor; however, there is a lack of systematic research on the basic and characteristic components responsible for the formation of meat aroma. This study aimed to identify the con-tributors to meat odor by a multispecies comparison between chicken, duck, pork, and beef. The combined analysis identified 13 contributing substances. Eight substances [(E)-2-nonenal, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, 1-octen-3-ol, and dimethyl, tetrasulfide] were considered universal contributors to meat odor, and five [(E,E)-2,4-decadienal, (E,Z)-2,4-decadienal, (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal, (E)-2-nonenal, and (E)-2 -decenal] had a characteristic contribution to the aroma of meat from different species. Further, we revealed the positive relationship between 11 of these 13 substances. Also, arachidonic acid and diacylglycerol (16:0/16:0/ 0:0) were the metabolic markers of olefine aldehydes through five common pathways (biosynthesis of unsatu-rated fatty acids, and so on). These findings revealed the contributors and metabolic pathways to meat smell and might help understand the regulatory mechanism of the aroma quality of meat.