Tobacco straw activated carbons(TSAC60, TSAC75, TSAC90) were prepared at three activation times(60, 75, 90 min) by pyrolysis activation method. The adsorption and release behaviors of β-phenylethanol on the three prepared activated carbons(TSAC) were studied, and the influence of pore structure on the adsorption and release behavior of β-phenylethanol was analyzed using a kinetic model. The results showed that the pore structure varied with activation time: microporosity decreased from 66.39%(TSAC60) to 24.81%(TSAC90). Adsorption of β-phenylethanol on TSAC was primarily physical, best fitted by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, with TSAC60 showing the highest equilibrium adsorption(101.49%) but the lowest rate constant. Non-isothermal heat release analysis indicated enhanced thermal stability, with TSAC60 exhibiting the strongest sustained release, well-described by the Page model. Isothermal release followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, dominated by Fickian diffusion; TSAC60 released 27.34% of β-phenylethanol after 35 days. The microporosity of TSAC was the key factor governing adsorption and sustained release performance.