The leaf oils of seven major commercial mandarin varieties which are cultivated in Israel were investigated using GC/MS. Seventy-three components were identified in the oils, which could be grouped into three distinct chemical types. These were type A: (classic mandarin petitgrain) an oil rich in methyl-N-methyl anthranilate (variety Balady); type B: (varieties Yussuf Effendy, Dancy and Maya) containing thymol, reduced amounts of sabinene and a large amount of linalool; type C: (varieties Clementine, Michal and Nectarine) which is characterized by high concentrations of sabinene and terpinen-4-ol, moderate amounts of linalool and by the absence of thymol.