The volatile leaf oils ofJuniperus chinensis(sensu stricto) are found to be polymorphic for cedrene, thujopsene, and cedrol as well as aromatic compounds derived from the phenyl propanoid pathway. Reports on the oil of putativeJ. chinensisin the literature did not correspond to the oil from China which suggests that the cultivatedJ. chinensismay be a selection from the species and not typical. The oil of cvltivaipyramidalispossessed some similarities to the oil of one of theJ. chinensissamples, whereas die oil of var.kaizucawas very different, supporting the continued recognition of the variety status.