Abstract The composition of the essential oils from three Iranian Umbelliferae species of Xanthogalum purpurascens Ave-Lall., Eryngium caeruleum MB and Pimpinella aurea DC. obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Î²-Phellandrene (20.1%) and Î²-caryophyllene (11.3%) were the main components among the 26 constituents characterized in the oil of X. purpurascens representing 83.0% of the total components detected. Twenty compounds were identified in the oil of E. caeruleum, representing 96.4% of the total oil with limonene (60.5%) and Î´-3-carene (13.0%) as major constituents. The oil of P. aurea was characterized by higher amounts of trans-a-bergamotene (72.8%) among the 18 components comprising the total oil detected.