Particle swarm optimization (PSO) combined with alternating least squares (ALS) is introduced to self-modeling curve resolution (SMCR) in this study for effective initial estimate. The proposed method aims to search concentration profiles or pure spectra which give the best resolution result by PSO. SMCR sometimes yields insufficient resolution results by getting trapped in a local minimum with poor initial estimates. The proposed method enables to reduce an undesirable effect of the local minimum in SMCR due to the advantages of PSO. Moreover, a new criterion based on global phase angle is also proposed for more effective performance of SMCR. It takes full advantage of data structure, that is to say, a sequential change with respect to a perturbation can be considered in SMCR with the criterion. To demonstrate its potential, SMCR by PSO is applied to concentration-dependent near-infrared (NIR) spectra of mixture solutions of oleic acid (OA) and ethanol. Its curve resolution performances are compared with SMCR with evolving factor analysis (EFA). The results show that SMCR by PSO yields significantly better curve resolution performances than those by EFA. It is revealed that SMCR by PSO is less sensitive to a local minimum in SMCR and it can be a new effective tool for curve resolution analysis.