<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>In the present study, the characterization and comparison of the pungent components in commercial <jats:italic>Z</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>bungeanum</jats:italic> oils and <jats:italic>Z</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>schinifolium</jats:italic> oils were investigated. By high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)‐mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis, the major alkylamides in <jats:italic>Z</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>bungeanum</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Z</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>schinifolium</jats:italic> oils were identified as hydroxy‐ε‐sanshool, hydroxy‐α‐sanshool, hydroxy‐β‐sanshool, hydroxy‐γ‐sanshool, hydroxy‐γ‐isosanshool, bungeanool, isobungeanool, and tetrahydrobungeanool, respectively. Hydroxy‐α‐sanshool was found to be the most abundant alkylamide in all oils. The levels of hydroxy‐ε‐sanshool and hydroxy‐β‐sanshool in <jats:italic>Z</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>bungeanum</jats:italic> oils were comparable to that in <jats:italic>Z</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>schinifolium</jats:italic> oils, whereas <jats:italic>Z</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>bungeanum</jats:italic> oils contained significantly (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> less than 0.05) higher levels of hydroxy‐γ‐isosanshool, bungeanool, isobungeanool, and tetrahydrobungeanool, compared with <jats:italic>Z. schinifolium</jats:italic> oils. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that <jats:italic>Z. bungeanum</jats:italic> oil and <jats:italic>Z. schinifolium</jats:italic> oil were clearly classified by HPLC fingerprinting profiles and concentrations of alkylamides. In addition, the results of PCA suggested that alkylamides, such as hydroxy‐γ‐sanshool and bungeanool, could be potential markers to distinguish <jats:italic>Z. bungeanum</jats:italic> oil and <jats:italic>Z. schinifolium</jats:italic> oil. The results from this study could be used to discriminate the different flavor characterization and control the quality of commercial <jats:italic>Z</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>bungeanum</jats:italic> oil and <jats:italic>Z</jats:italic>. <jats:italic>schinifolium</jats:italic> oil.