Differences in the essential oil compositions of Salvia fruticosa and Sideritis pisidica species growing in different locations in Turkey were determined. Superheated water extraction (SWE) was used to extract essential oils. The essential oil components of Salvia fruticosa and Sideritis pisidica were removed from aqueous extract by C 18 solid phase extraction. The composition of the volatile components was determined using GC-MS. The extraction yields from Salvia fruticosa were found to be between 0.97 % and 1.86 % and those from Sideritis pisidica were between 0.52 and 0.89 %. The major components of the Salvia fruticosa from all locations but one were 1,8-cineole and camphor. In contrast, the major components of Sideritis pisidica were identified as eugenol, thymol, β-pinene, camphor and α-pinene. The SWE based method is quicker, selective, environmentally friendly and more efficient than the other extraction methods.