Display omitted •EOs composition and volatiles emission of four Sicilian sumac samples were analysed by GC-FID and GC–MS for the first time.•Non terpenic compounds were present as main constituents, mainly represented by aldehydes.•EO composition is quite similar in three of the four samples except for CG where p-anisaldehyde showed the high percentage in comparison with the others.•Main oil components in R. coriaria fruits were p-anisaldehyde, (Z)-2-heptenal, (E)-2-decenal, β-caryophllene and cembrene. The volatile fractions and essential oils from Rhus coriaria fruits collected in four locations in Sicily (Italy) were characterized by GC–FID and GC–MS analysis. Monoterpenes were identified as the main class of constituents in volatiles spontaneously emitted by sumac fruits collected in two of the four sites (42.1–59.9% in ‘CNS’ and ‘CIN’ respectively), while non terpenic compounds predominated in the other two (46.1–52.8% in ‘MR’ and ‘CG’, respectively). The EO composition were characterized by high amount of non terpenic compounds (from 27.5 to 55.1%), followed by sesquiterpenes and diterpenes. p-anisaldehyde was the main constituent both in volatiles emitted by ‘CG’ sample and in its essential oil (28.4 and 20.8%, respectively). The comparison between the EOs obtained from the Sicilian samples differed from the EO obtained from sumac fruits purchased on the Jordanian market, even though a similar composition were evidenced with Turkish samples reported in the literature.