Linalool is a chemical fragrance widely used globally in the cosmetic industry. However, its use has some limitations due to its poor aqueous solubility. Encapsulation of linalool in beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) can improve its solubility. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters are helpful in understanding the reaction mechanism between a guest molecule and beta-CD. In this, we paper evaluated the formation of inclusion complex of linalool in beta-CD by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and thermoanalytical methods. We determined the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters, and propose a mechanism of thermal decomposition of the linalool/beta-CD inclusion complex. The formation of the inclusion complex was confirmed using ESI-MS, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). The activation energy of thermal decomposition of the inclusion complex was determined by Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Starink methods to be 212.16 +/- 5.06 and 211.00 +/- 4.78 kJ mol(-1), respectively, showing there was no strong chemical interaction between linalool and beta-CD. The proposed decomposition reaction mechanism was a two-dimensional diffusion model.