Abstract Water-distilled essential oils (Aeollanthus suaveolens were analyzed by both GC and GC/MS. The major components identified in the oil of the dried plant (sample A) were (E)-Î²-farnesene (32.8%), linalool (31.6%), 2-decen-5-olide (15.0%) and linalyl acetate (8.5%). The main constituents found in the oil of the fresh plant (sample B) were linalool (49.3%) and (E)-Î²-farnesene (34.9%). The compounds 2-decen-5-olide and linalyl acetate were detected only in minute quantities in the fresh plant.