Abstract The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Salvia persepolitana Benth., which is endemic to Iran, and Salvia rhytidea Benth. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Manool (37.3%) was the main component among the twenty-three constituents characterized in the oil of S. persepolitana representing 90.0% of the total components detected. The oil of S. rhytidea was characterized by higher amounts of terpinolene (27.0%), sabinene (17.5%) and limonene (14.9%) which were among the twenty-two components comprising 98.3% of the total oil detected.