The application of combined capillary gas chromatography-fluorescence spectrometry to the determination of two- and three-ring aromatic hydrocarbons in commercial light hydrocarbon fractions has been evaluated. Concentrations of naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene and fluorene have been measured in kerosene, petrol and white spirit fractions by direct injection without sample pre-treatment. Limits of detection range from 10 ng (3 mg l^–1) for naphthalene to 1 ng (0.3 mg l^–1) for fluorene, with a coefficient of variationof 8.5%.