AbstractThe leaf essential oils of the two species ofChoricarpiawere examined.Choricarpia subargentea(C.T. White) L.A.S. Johnson produced an oil in which the major components were α‐pinene (30‐76%), limonene (2‐55%) and 1,8‐cineole (2‐20%). The oil also contained the aromatic ketone jensenone (2,4,6‐trihydroxy‐3,5‐diformyl‐isopentyrophenone) in amounts of up to 5%.Choricarpia leptopetala(F. Muell.) Domin produced an oil which also contained α‐pinene, as principal component. There were varying (though less than 20%) amounts of limonene,p‐cymene and 1,8‐cineole present. Small amounts (less than 3%) of methyl eugenol, methyl isoeugenol and elemicin were also detected in the oil. Jensenone wa