Fifty-five samples of essential oil obtained from individual plants of Lavandula dentata L. var. dentata from Algeria were analysed using GC and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The results were submitted to chemometric analysis (k-means clustering and principal component analysis). Two principal clusters of equal importance were distinguished within the essential oil of the individuals of L. dentata. The samples belonging to cluster I were characterized by a very high content of 1,8-cineole (mean value 48%). Conversely, the mean composition of the samples of cluster II were dominated by 1,8-cineole, β-pinene, trans-pinocarveol and linalool. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.