Abstract The composition of the essential oils from three Salvia species of Iran: Salvia sclareopsis Bornm. ex Hedge., Salvia brachysiphon Stapf, which are endemic to Iran, and Salvia verbascifolia M.Bieb., obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oils of S. sclareopsis and S. verbascifolia were rich in β-caryophyllene (22.5% and 18.5%) and germacrene D (16.5% and 34.1%), respectively. The other main component of the first oil was benzyl benzoate (13.7%) and in the latter one was caryophyllene oxide (10.3%). In the oil of S. brachysiphon, also β-caryophyllene (28.1%), α-pinene (20.6%), limonene (11.5%) and β-pinene (10.6%) were found to be the major constituents.