Abstract The essential oil of the aerial parts of Cunila spicata Benth. (Lamiacaeae), was obtained by hydrodistillation and investigated by capillary GC and GC/MS. Fifty one components representing 91.8% of the oil were identified, consisting mainly of monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated derivatives. The major constituents were limonene (25.9%), geranyl acetate (21.8%) and linalool (21.2%).