The essential oil of aerial parts of Salvia microstegia Boiss. et Balansa (Lamiaceae) growing wild in Lebanon was obtained by hydrodistillation and was analysed by GC and GC-MS. 70 compounds, representing 94.0% of the oil, were identified. The major components were caryophyllene oxide (6.2%), pulegone (5.7%), 4-vinylauaiacole (5.3%), hexadecanoic acid (5.1%) and menthone (4.9%). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.