Abstract The composition of the essential oil obtained from the hydrodistillation of the leaves of Psidium guajava L. was analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. A total of 50 compounds were identified. The major constituents identified in the oil were: Î²-caryophyllene (27.7%), Î±-pinene (14.7%) and 1,8-cineole (12.4%).