Abstract The essential oils obtained from the dried leaves, flowers, stem and root of Centaurea zuvandica Sosn. (Compositae) were analyzed using GC and GC/MS. Twenty components were identified in the oil of leaves with spathulenol (28.1%), α-pinene (21.3%) and caryophyllene oxide (9.7%) as main constituents. Fifteen compounds were identified in the oil of flowers with spathulenol (32.3%), α-pinene (25.8%) and limonene (8.2%) as main components. Eighteen compounds were characterized in the oil of stem with spathulenol (37.1%), α-terpineol (12.8%), caryophyllene oxide (8.2%) as main constituents. In the oil of root, germacrene D (35.2%), spathulenol (15.7%) and α-terpineol (11.6%) were found as main constituents. All oils consisted of monoterpene and sesquiterpene components.