The volatiles present in the aerial parts of Salvia nemorosa L. (Lamiaceae), grave sage, were analysed by GC/MS and GC in plants growing at different sites in the outskirts of Vienna, Austria. The flower oils contained mainly sabinene (37-44%), germacrene D (9-14%), beta-caryophyllene (8-12%) and caryophyllene oxide (2.6-4.4%). Leaf samples had beta-caryophyllene (14-41%), germacrene D (14-38%) and caryophyllene oxide (5-20%) as main compounds, while stem oils were characterized by an high hexadecanoic acid percentage besides germacrene D and beta-caryophyllene.