Abstract Desmos goezeanus gave a leaf oil dominated by the aromatic esters benzyl benzoate and benzyl salicylate. These varied from an oil in which benzyl benzoate and benzyl salicylate were present in amounts of 69% and 20%, through one in which they accounted for 47% and 45% to one in which they were present in 19% and 45%. The remainder of the oil was composed of mono- and sesquiterpenes. Desmos species (Mossman River L.W. Jessup 550) gave an oil in which the principal component was benzyl benzoate (52%), with the remaining components being mono- and sesquiterpene. D. wardianus produced an oil in which the major component was Î±-pinene (37%), and mono- and sesquiterpenes, accounting for the remainder of the oil (all components <6%). The aromatic esters accounted for <0.5% of this oil.