Abstract The water-distilled essential oils from aerial parts of Chaerophyllum macropodum Boiss. and Chaerophyllum crinitum Boiss. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oil of C. macropodum was found to contain Î±-pinene (23.0%), Î²-pinene (17.3%) and fenchyl acetate (13.8%) as the major constituents. The oil of C. crinitum was characterized by a higher amount of (E)-Î²-ocimene (50.5%). Both oils were richer in monoterpene than sesquiterpene hydrocarbons.