abstract analyses of the essential oil of myristica fragrans houttuyn (nutmeg oil), from st. catherine, jamaica were compared with the literature data (1976-1997) for west indian (primarily grenadian) and east indian nutmeg oils. gc, gc/ms and rp-hplc strategies were used to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the jamaican oil which was found to contain lower quantities (weight percent) of the phenylpropanoids myristicin (0.16%) and safrole (<0.2%), than the east indian oils. three isomers of ocimene, namely (e)--ocimene, (z)--ocimene and (z)--ocimene where identified in the jamaican oil. these have not been reported as being present in the other oils under review. the monoterpenoids -pinene (19.9%), -pinene (18.8%), and terpinen-4-ol (17.8%) also showed differences in amounts, which could lead to use of these compounds as markers to distinguish between the west indian oils.