Abstract The essential oil of Craniotome furcata (Lamiaceae) was analyzed by GC, GC/MS and NMR (1H- and 13C-). Twenty-two constituents were identified which represent 91.0% of the total oil. The main constituent was germacrene D (30.9%). The other constituents were germacrene D-4-ol (12.1%), Î±-cadinol (6.4%), 3-octanone (6.1%), germacrene A (5.8%) and epi-Î±-cadinol (4.0%). The oil was rich in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (49.0%).