The recovery of three ethyl esters (aroma model compounds; ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate. ethyl butyrate) from aqueous solutions was studied for vapor permeation with surface-modified hydrophobic alumina membrane, Although the driving force of ethyl butyrate is the highest, the ethyl butyrate concentration in permeate is lower than those of propionate and acetate. Since the solubility of aroma compounds for water is very low, phase separation occurred in permeate, and we could obtain pure ethyl esters. The experimental results showed that the porous hydrophobic alumina membrane had high selectivity and permeation flux on the ester-model compounds.