Abstract Water distilled essential oil of Hippomarathrum cristatum (DC.) Boiss. (Umbelliferae) fruits used as a condiment in food products traditionally was analyzed by GC and GC/MS methods. Eighty compounds were characterized representing 91.6% of the oil. Hexadecanoic acid (11.6%), nonacosane (8.0%), germacrene D (6.1%) and myristicin (4.4%) were found to be the major constituents of the oil.