The scope of the principal techniques employed for the quantitative analysis of hydrocarbons in complex mixtures is discussed with the emphasis on the analysis of one- and two-ring aromatic compounds by single column capillary gas chromatography. The questions related to the analysis of complex hydrocarbon samples are outlined. The paper considers quantitative evaluation of a gas chromatogram when analysing a hydrocarbon mixture with a flame ionisation detector (FID). Response factors and methods of quantitative analysis are discussed in detail.