Abstract Volatile oil rich in thymoquinone (TQ) was extracted from dry aerial parts of scarlet bee balm ( Monarda didyma ) and wild bergamot ( Monarda fistulosa ) with supercritical CO 2 . The optimum extraction conditions were determined as 12 MPa and 40 °C for both yield (0.6 mg TQ/g M. didyma and 1.7 mg TQ/g M. fistulosa ) and high TQ concentration in extract (5.2 and 10.2% w/w, resp.). The difference in the extraction kinetics of volatile oil and cuticular waxes was examined. The supercritical fluid extraction was compared with hydrodistillation and Soxhlet extraction with hexane. Substantial thymoquinone loss during hydrodistillation was confirmed. The extraction with hexane ensured maximum TQ yields (0.7 and 2.1 mg/g, resp.) but TQ concentration in the extracts was lower (2.6 and 3.8%).