Abstract The chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench ssp. barrelieri (Teno) Nyman var. scandens Guss. and H. stoechas ssp. barrelieri var. spathulatum Raulin growing in Crete, were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. From the 39 identified constituents representing 89.8% and 87.0% of the two oils, respectively, Î²-caryophyllene, Î±-humulene, Î±-pinene and limonene, were found to be the major components. Furthermore, the oils were tested against two Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria, and three pathogenic fungi.