Abstract The composition of the essential oil obtained from flowering tops of Melissa romana Miller wild grown in Southern Apulia (Italy) was investigated by GC and GC/MS. More than 90% of the compounds were characterized. Î²-Caryophyllene (15.8%), cumene (14.0%), Î²-pinene (12.0%) and citral (neral + geranial, 12.0%) were the major constituents of the oil.