The headspace, the essential oil and a dichloromethane extract of horsechestnut(Aesculus hippocastanumL.) peels as well as the seed oil were analyzed by GC, GC/FTIR/MS and GC-sniffing techniques. The headspace was found to be rich in 3-hexenol (8.2%), 2-heptanol (5.2%), 2-heptenone (4.7%), benzyl alcohol (4.1%), 2-methylbutanal (3.7%), 2-phenyl ethanol (3.5%), isovaleraldehyde (3.3%) and 2-octanol (3.3%). The oil as well as the extract of the peels showed a similar composition, but differed in the olfactoric impression. The concentrations of the main compounds in both samples were less than in the headspace. The main volatile constituents of the horsechestnut seeds were nonanal (5.3%), 3-hexenol (5.2%), nonanoic acid (4.6%), benzyl alcohol (3.9%) and 2-heptanol (3.2%).