Chemical investigation and antimicrobial properties of mastic water and its major constituents

► Mastic water was analysed by GC−MS and the major compounds were verbenone and α-terpineol. ► The enantiomeric ratio of the major constituents was determined using chiral GC-MS. ► Mastic water extracts and pure constituents were tested for antimicrobial activity. ► Linalool and α-terpineol were found to be the most potent antimicrobial constituents. ► The stability of mastic water at different storage temperatures was studied.