The essential oil of the leaves of Lawsonia inermis L. (henna) was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-six components, which constituted 80.4 % of the oil, were identified. The major components were ethyl hexadecanoate (24.4 %), (E)-methyl cinnamate (11.4 %), isocaryophyllene (8.1 %), (E)-beta-ionone (5.8 %) and methyl linolenate (4.1 %).