The essential oils from the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus L. collected from two different locations (Empangeni-A and KwaDlangezwa-B; both in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province of South Africa) were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. Forty-one and 43 components were identified, representing 89.9% and 92.0% of sample A and sample B, respectively. α-Cyperone (11.0%), myrtenol (7.9%), caryophyllene oxide (5.4%) and β-pinene (5.3%) were major compounds in the oil of sample A. The main constituents of the oil of sample B were β-pinene (11.3%), α-pinene (10.8%), α- cyperone (7.9%), myrtenol (7.1%) and α-selinene (6.6%).