AbstractEssential oils were isolated fromArtemisia abrotanumL.,A. absinthiumL.,A. albaTurra,A. annua, L.,A. campestrisL. ssp.campestris, A. campestrisL. ssp.borealis(Pallas) H. M. Hall et Clements,A. chamaemelifoliaVill.,A. genipiWeber,A. glacialisL., A.petrosaBaumg. ssp.erianthaTen.,A. umbelliformisLam.,A. vallesiacaAll.,A. verlotiorumLamotte,A. vulgarisL., growing spontaneously in the north‐west Italian Alps. GC‐MS analyses were carried out in order to determine the percentage composition of the oils. The data obtained were statistically processed in order to partition the species according to their oil composition. The results showed the presence of two main groups of plants. The first group composed ofA. genipi, A. umbelliformisandA. petrosawas characterized by the presence of α‐thujone, while camphor and 1,8‐cineole characterized the oil of the remainin