Abstract The volatile constituents from aerial and underground parts of Croton flavens L, a medicinal plant from Curacao, were investigated by GC and GC/MS (El) analysis. The various plant parts yielded 0.27-0.50% (v/w) essential oil on a dry weight basis. There were only small differences in the qualitative composition of the oils analyzed. A total of 70 components were identified. The main compounds in the oil were Î±-pinene (15-24%), isocaryophyllene (0.7-9%), spathulenol (3-5%), and an unknown oxygenated sesquiterpene (RI=1556), amounting to 7%.