abstract leaves of pimenta dioica were used for supercritical extraction with carbon dioxide to isolate the corresponding volatile concentrate. the vegetable fragrances were isolated by supercritical co2 extraction coupled to a fractional separation technique. the process was carried out operating at 90 bar and 50^0c in the extraction vessel, at 90 bar and below -15^0c in the frst separator to selectively precipitate the cuticular waxes and at a pressure between 15 and 20 bar and temperatures in the range (15^0-21^0c) in the second separator to recover the volatiles. gc/ms analysis of the extract allowed the identifcation of the volatile concentrate composition. the main constituent in the extract was eugenol (77.9%). key word index: pimenta dioica myrtaceaeessential oil compositionsupercritical carbon dioxide extract compositioneugenol