The work aims to diminish the economic losses incurred due to cherry decay during storage and to prolong the post-harvest shelf life of cherries. The chitosan-Elsholtzia ciliata essential oil coating liquid was applied to cherry preservation. By measuring the change of cherry quality under different essential oil concentrations, such as weight rate, pH value, polyphenol oxidase activity and other indicators, the preservation effect on cherries was explored. The chitosan coating liquid added with Elsholtzia ciliata essential oil had a good preservation effect on cherries and could effectively extend the shelf life of cherries. The experimental group added with 2% Elsholtzia ciliata essential oil had the optimal the preservation effect. Compared with the blank control group, the weight loss rate was reduced by 57.6%, the cherry hardness remained well, the pH values increased by 56.6%, the peroxidase activity increased by 8.8%, and the polyphenols oxidase activity decreased by 28.7%. The coating liquid prepared from chitosan-Elsholtzia ciliata essential oil helps to reduce the economic losses of the cherry industry in post-harvest storage of cherries, which also provides a theoretical basis for the research and development of natural preservation materials.