The essential oils of Thymbra spicata and Satureja thymbra growing wild in Israel were investigated by means of GLC and GC-MS. The main components of the oils were carvacrol, thymol, γ-terpinene and p-cymene. Eleven monoterpene hydrocarbons, two sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and nine oxygenated monoterpenes were identified. 1 Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 1351-E, 1985 series