The essential oil profile of Baccharis anomala DC was examined. Samples were collected from in the Pró-Mata area (São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil), and GC–MS data and retention indices were used to identify 58 oil components. β-Selinene (40.8%), caryophyllene oxide (9.9%) and spathulenol (6.8%) were the major constituents of the steam-distilled oil. The olfactive profile of the B. anomala oil was described as: sweet, resinous and woody. When the oil was evaluated by gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC–O), the study revealed that the oil has a complex aroma profile formed by 34 odorants with modified frequency above 40, 31 of which could be identified. In this way, the odor, was objectively established for this species.