Abstract The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from the flowering aerial parts of Marrubium vulgare L.. and Marrubium peregrinum L. were determined by GC/MS. Twelve components were identified in M. vulgare oil with Î²-caryophyllene (45.8%) and germacrene D (14.4%) being the major constituents. In M. peregrinum oil, sixteen compounds were identified with Î²-caryophyllene (31.3%), germacrene D (28.1%) and bicyclogermacrene (15.3%) predominating.