Abstract The essential oil from leaves of Eugenia acapulcensis Steud. obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. From the MS data and retention indices obtained 56.7% of the oil consisting of 47 components could be identified. Eighty-five percent of the analyzed oil was comprised of sesquiterpenes, either hydrocarbons or oxygenated, among which Î±-cadinol (4.2%), spathulenol (4.2%), Ï-cadinene (3.8%) and (Z)-nerolidol (3.5%) were the main ones. The oxygenated monoterpene trans-pinocarveol (4.2%) was also found as a major component of the oil.