AbstractThe essential oil of Monodora myristica was obtained by steam distillation with a yield of 45‐6 g kg−1. The composition of the oil was analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The oil was found to contain 75% monoterpene hydrocarbons; the major compounds being α‐phellandrene (50–4%), α‐pinene (5–5%) and myrcene (4–35%). There were also a few sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (3%) and oxygenated compounds such as germacrcne‐D‐4‐ol (9–5%). Germacrene‐D‐4‐ol, α‐pinene, Δ2‐carene, β‐caryophyllene, valencene. γ‐muurolol and carvacryl acetate have not previously been reported in M myristica.