There has been no specific test available for identifying the sesame oil among common edible oils. As the contents of sesamin and the ratio of sterols allowed the estimation for the genuine sesame oil, the author investigated to establish some instrumental methods for verification of genuine sesame oil and its distribution in the market. The sesame oil was saponified and the sesamin and sterols were isolated from the unsaponiable fraction by Florisil column chromatography. The individual components were determined by gas- chromatography and sesamin standard (purified sesamin) was obtained by silicagel column chromatography. The gas- chromatographic condition using Flame Ionization Detector supported on 10% OV-101 with di-(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate as an internal standard was suitable, and quantitation of sesamin and sterols, including campesterol, stigmasterol and ${eta}-sitosterol$ was carried out. The results of this study showed that contents of sesamin in genuine sesame oil were 0.3-0.5% and the ratio of stigmasterol to compesterol was 0.3-0.6 and ${eta}-sitosterol$ to campesterol 3.0-3.8. The 50 samples from the markets in Seoul were composed of 70% genuine sesame oil, and others were mixed with palm oil, rape seed oil and soybean oil.