The invention relates to a watermelon essence for oil-based ink. The watermelon essence is prepared from watermelon essence, maltodextrin and starch sodium octenylsuccinate, wherein the watermelon essence is prepared from leaf alcohol, hexenyl acetate, ligustral, phenyl acetaldehyde dimethyl acetal, methyl heptenone, trans-2-hexenal, nonadienaldehyde, melonal, ethyl caprylate, ethyl isovalerate, hexyl acetate, allyl cyclohexanepropionate, benzyl alcohol, linalool, citronellol, geraniol, Alpha terpneol, phenethyl alcohol, hydroxycitronellal, lilial, heliotropin, citral, dimethylbenzylcarbinyl acetate, vanillin, alpha-damascenone, isomethyl ionone, verdyl acetate, linalyl acetate, linalyl acetate, styralyl acetate, phenethyl acetate, phenethyl isobutyrate, phenoxyethyl isobutyrate, terpinyl acetate, n-pentyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate, benzyl salicylate and Brazil orange oil. The invention also provides a preparation method for the watermelon essence for the oil-based ink. According to the watermelon essence and the preparation method, the fragrance retention effect and the oil solubility of the essence are improved.