Headspace volatiles collected from six Crucifer species of the two genera Brassica and Sinapis were investigated by GC/MS. A total of 34 compounds were identified from both whole plants and macerated plant parts. Typical cell-degradation compounds including alcohols, aldehydes and glucosinolate breakdown products were primarily found in macerate samples, while terpenes were detected almost exclusively in whole plants. Macerated buds generally contained higher amounts of nitriles and isothiocyanates than did macerated leaves. Several compounds here identified have, to our knowledge, not been previously reported in Brassica and Sinapis.