Abstract Essential oils from fresh leaves of Chromolaena odorata (L.) were extracted by steam distillation. The oil from leaves (I) was obtained with a very low percentage. The extraction yield for the leaves (II) was 0.07 %. Analysis made by GC and GC-MS showed a total of 64 compounds identified. The main components of the oils were pregeijerene (29.9 %), germacrene D (21.6 %), β-caryophyllene (14.3 %), geijerene (10.1 %), α-pinene (8.0 %), sabinene (5.4 %). Key words: Chromolaena odorata (L.)Asteraceaevolatile constituentsessential oil compositionpregeijerenegermacrene Dβ-caryophyllenegeijereneα-pinene