Abstract The composition of the essential oils of Nepeta denudate Benth. and N. cephalotes Boiss., which are endemic to Iran, was investigated by means of GC, GC/MS and 1H-NMR spectra of the main compounds, 1,8-cineole (48.0%), myrtenol (5.0%), β-pinene (4.6%) and trans-pinocarveol (4.5%) were the main components among the 21 constituents characterized in the oil of N. denudata, representing 85.7% of the total components detected. Ten compounds were identified in the oil of N. cephalotes representing 78.5% of the total oil with 4aα, 7α, 7aα-nepetalactone (35.1%), β-pinene (18.2%) and 1,8-cineole (11.4%) as the major constituents. The structure of 1,8-cineole, nepetalactone and β-pinene were confirmed by their 1H-NMR spectra.