AbstractThe essential oils of Agonis obtusissima F. Muell., Eremaea pauciflora (Endl.) Druce, Eucalyptus erythrocorys F. Muell., Eucalyptus stoatei C. Gardner, Kunzea pulchella (Lindl.) A. S. George, Malleostemon tuberculatus (E. Pritzel) J. W. Green, Melaleuca uncinata R. Br., Thryptomene australis Endl. and Thryptomene kochii E. Pritzel have been extracted by cohobative water‐distillation of the leaves and terminal branchlets. The oils of Kunzea pulchella (both the red and the white‐flowered forms) contained globulol (83–88%). The oils of Thryptomene australis contained geranic acid (52%) and α‐pinene (22%), whilst T. kochii oils contained α‐pinene (58–60%). Eremaea pauciflora oil contained 1,8‐cineole (22%) and the three isomeric eudesmols (α‐, β‐, γ‐; 26%). Agonis obtusissima oil contained α‐pinene (12%), trans‐β‐ocimene (16%) and globulol (39%). Malleostemon tuberculatus oil contained α‐pinene (33%), 1,8‐cineole (21%) and E,E‐farnesol (6%). The oil of Melaleuca uncinata, rich in α‐pinene (89%), represents the hydrocarbon form of this species. The oil of Eucalyptus erythrocorys contained 1,8‐cineole (59%) and α‐pinene (12%), whilst the oil of Eucalyptus stoatei contained α‐pinene (32%), 1,8‐cineole (26%), globulol (10%) and the three isomeric eudesmols (α‐, β‐, γ‐, 11%). Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.