In this study, anaesthetic effects of cumin and lavender essential oils by comparing with clove oil were determined on common carp. Fish (mean weight of 10 g) were exposed to nine concentrations of essential oils (5–500 mg L−1). Anaesthesia induction, recovery times and mean lethal dose of essential oils (10 min LC50 concentration) were evaluated separately for each fish. In addition, histopathological effects of essential oils on the fish tissues including hepatopancreas, gill and skin were investigated. The results showed that when the dose of essential oils increased, the time to anaesthesia induction was shortened and the time to recovery from anaesthesia was prolonged. Cumin essential oil at 300 mg L−1 dose and lavender oil at 400 mg L−1 dose on common carp showed similar anaesthetic effects (sedative and deep anaesthesia) to clove oil (p > .05). At these concentrations, sedative (Stage 2) and deep anaesthesia (Stage 4) induction times were 105 and 187.5 s for cumin and 94 and 194 s for lavender respectively. Recovery times at these concentrations were 415 s for cumin and 477.5 s for lavender. Mean lethal dose of essential oils for carp were found as 450 mg L−1 for cumin oil and 500 mg L−1 for lavender oil. Histopathological examination revealed no lesion in gill, skin and hepatopancreas in essential oils group. In the light of these findings, it was determined that lavender and cumin oils can be used as effective and safe anaesthetic in common carp.