The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from the hydrodistillation of the rhizomes of the common ginger (Zingiber officinale) and three ginger-lilies (Hedychium coccineum, H. flavescens and H. coronarium) grown in Mauritius was investigated by GC and GC/MS. Z. officinale oil was characterized by the presence of geranial (16.3%), neral (10.3%), zingiberene (9.5%), β-sesquiphellandrene (6.3%) and ar-curcumene (5.1%). The oils of the ginger lilies were characterized as follows: H. coccineum: (E)-nerolidol (44.4%), trans-sesquisabinene hydrate (24.2%); H. flavescens: linalool (35.0%), 1,8-cineole [eucalyptol] (15.3%), β-pinene (14.7%), α-terpineol (14.5%) and α-pinene (5.3%); H. coronarium: α-muurolol (16.8%), α-terpineol (15.9%), 1,8-cineole (11.2%), an unknown sesquiterpene alcohol (7.0%), α-fenchyl acetate (5.6%), citronellal (5.5%) and (E)-methyl cinnamate (5.1%).