Abstract The essential oil of Anaphalis contorta of the family Compositae was examined by GC, GC/MS and NMR (1H- and 13C-). Forty-four constituents were identified, of which caryophyllene oxide (20.3%), α-cadinol (8.4 %), caryophyllene alcohol (8.1%) were the major compounds while γ-muurolene (6.4%), 14- hydroxyl-9-epi-β-caryophyllene (5.6%) ar-curcumene (5.4%) and β-bisabolene (5.4%) were also present as minor constituents.