Abstract The essential oil of Eugenia nitida Camb. was obtained from the fresh leaves by hydrodistillation. The oil was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. A total of 30 compounds were identified. The major components found in the oil were germacrene D-4-ol (9.8%), γ-elemene (8.0%), β-caryophyllene (7.6%),β-selinene (4.4%), γ-muurolene (4.1%), valencene (3-9%), epi-α-cadinol (2.9%), selin-ll-en-4α-ol (2.8%), δ-cadinene (2.8%), α-cadinol (2.7%), selin-3,7(11)-diene (2.4%) and β-eudesmol (2.1%).