Abstract Water-distilled volatile from the aerial parts of Pycnocycla aucherana and P. musiformis of Iranian origin was analyzed by a combination of GC and GC/MS. Twenty and 23 components were identified, which approximately constituted 99.9% of the oil of P. aucherana and P. musiformis, respectively. The major constituents of P. aucherana oil were p-cymene (44.7%), α-phellandrene (25.0%), β-phellandrene (11.7%), spathulenol (5.6%) and guaiol (5.1%), while the main constituents of the oil of P. musiformis were thymol (53.5%), α-pinene (10.7%), bornyl acetate (4.2%), limonene (3.8%) and (Z)-β-ocimene (3.3%).