Abstract The essential oils obtained from the dried leaves, flowers, stem and aerial parts of Salvia aethiopis L. (Labiatae) were analyzed using GC and GC/MS. Eighteen components were identified in the oil of leaves with α-copaene (23.8%), β-caryophyllene (23.3%) and germacrene D (18%) as main constituents. Twenty-two compounds were identified in the oil of flowers with β-caryophyllene (24.1%), germacrene D (18.4%) and α-copaene (18.1%) as main components. Eighteen compounds were characterized in the oil of stem with α-copaene (24.9%), β-caryophyllene (20.9%) and germacrene D (17.8%) as main constituents. Twenty-nine compounds were characterized in the oil of aerial parts with β-caryophyllene (23.8%), α-copaene (21%) and germacrene D (18.6%) as main constituents.