The stoichiometric coefficients and apparent formation constants (K-f) of alpha -terpineol, thymol, geraniol and linalool complexes with beta -cyclodextrin (beta -CD) were determined using HPLC with a porous graphitic carbon (PGC) chromatographic support. Measurements were performed with four different methanol-water mobile phases. All the terpene derivatives under study form 1:1 guest-CD complexes. Graphs of K-f as a function of the mobile phase composition appeared different from those classically described for RP-C-18 and suggest that the PGC stationary phase could play an active role in the complexation process. Solute-CD inclusion and solute-stationary phase interactions may be involved in this specific behavior. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.