Abstract: Aromatic compounds are organic small molecules that contain one or more aromatic rings in their structures. They are mainly produced by plants and microorganisms, but can also be synthesized chemically. Aromatic compounds have important applications in chemistry, materials and life sciences. This review summarized the biosynthesis pathways and synthetic biology of aromatic compounds, as well as their potential uses in improving the aroma, flavonoid content, herbicide tolerance, and lignin reduction of plants through biotechnology. The future prospect of synthetic biology in the research of aromatic compounds was discussed.