Abstract The essential oil from the aerial parts of Astrodaucus persicus (Boiss.) Drude. from Iran was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. Of the 41 components which were detected, 30 amounting to 96.8% were identified. The oil consisted mainly of non-terpenoid aliphatic compounds and a small percentage each of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The major components found in the oil were decanal (34.8%), dodecanal (15.5%) and dodecanol (14.3%).