Abstract The essential oil composition of 16 populations of Lippia alba collected from all over Guatemala was screened. Fourteen populations belonged to the myrcenone chemotype, containing myrcenone and ( Z )‐ocimenone as main compounds, while two populations were classified as belonging to the citral chemotype, containing 1,8‐cineol, neral and geranial. Additionally, the two morphotypes identified, correlated highly with the chemotypes. This correlation allows a presumption of the existence of two subspecies within Lippia alba in Guatemala. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.