Abstract The composition of the oil from the leaves of Eugenia stipitata McVaugh ssp. sororia growing on San Miguel Island (Azores) was investigated, whose constituents were identified by GC and GC/MS analyses. The oil was rich in both sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes, with Î±-pinene (14.1%), Î²-caryophyllene (22.7%) and caryophyllene oxide (15.4%) being the main components. The oil displayed promising antimicrobial activity when tested against Staphylococcus aureus, P. aeruginosa and L. monocytogenes.