After a brief review of the literature dealing with Vacherin Fribourgeois and Vacherin Mont-d`Or (Swiss) cheese varieties, the results of a study of their neutral and alkaline volatile compounds are presented. These compounds were extracted using a dynamic headspace (purge & trap) method and separated by capillary gas chromatography. Qualitative and semi-quantitative determination (relative measurements) was carried out using mass selective detection and retention index. Eight Vacherin Fribourgeois and 9 Vacherin Mont-d`Or cheeses produced by well-known factories were analysed in duplicate. In total, 66 components were identified. The results are presented using descriptive statistics. Vacherin Mont-d`Or cheeses contained some terpenoids, probably due to packaging of the individual cheeses (approximately 500-1000 g) in wood (spruce). Four compounds (ethanol, alpha -pinene, ethyl caproate and alpha - terpineol) were sufficient for distinguishing between the 2 Vacherin cheese types with a coefficient of determination of r2 = 0.937. With the exception of terpenoids, most compounds identified were present in both cheese types, but frequently in different concentrations. All the compounds isolated had already been found in other Swiss and foreign cheese varieties
