Drought and salinity are serious threats to agriculture worldwide. The present study investigated the effect of drought [moderate drought stress (25–30% volumetric water content - VWC), severe drought stress (15–20% VWC)] and salinity (moderate salinity stress (100 mM NaCl), severe salinity stress (200 mM NaCl)) on essential oil chemical composition and nutrient content in Ocimum basilicum 'Genovese'. According to obtained results salinity stress has a stronger influence on the nutrient content as well as on essential oil composition.