Abstract Samples of essential oil from Colombian ylang‐ylang trees were analyzed by means of HRGC, HRGC–MS, IR and 1 H‐ and 13 C‐NMR. 57 components were detected, 51 of which were positively identified. Camphene and anethol were identified in ylang‐ylang essential oil for the first time. Among the composition‐determining variables studied (extraction time, part of the flower, and flower freshness), the extraction time and the flower condition (fresh versus dry) were found to have the largest incidence in the quality of the essential oil.
