Abstract Essential oils of 113 Citrus clementina (Commun) × Citrus deliciosa (Willow Leaf) hybrids were obtained from leaves collected on trees located in the same orchard. Their chemical composition was investigated by capillary GC, GC–MS and 13 C‐NMR and the results were submitted to statistical analysis. Three chemical compositions were characterized. The crossing between clementine and mandarin produces mainly leaf oils characterized by a composition similar to those of the parents (sabinene/linalool or methyl N‐methylanthranylate). However, several samples exhibited an original composition ( γ‐ terpinene/linalool). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.