A series of Γ½ax ΓΌbre and yarn samples that had been commercially graded low, medium, and high quality were analysed by light microscopy, wet chemical analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to determine characteristics which could be related to quality ratings for each sample type. Light microscopy revealed fragments of cuticular and epidermal material bound to the ΓΌbres. As the quality ratings improved, fewer of these fragments were found and greater separation of the ΓΌbre bundles to smaller bundles and, in some cases, elementary ΓΌbres occurred indicating more efficient retting. Chemical evaluation showed that, as quality of the yarns increased, amounts of fatty acid and long-chain alcohols as well as dihydroxy fatty acids decreased. Chemical data on ΓΌbre did not show consistent trends with quality. Raman spectroscopy showed increasing amounts of cellulose and decreasing amounts of aromatics and hydrocarbons with increasing quality, which paralleled the chemical data. NMR analysis showed nearly equal amounts of crystalline cellulose regardless of quality for both ΓΌbre and yarn samples. The strengths and weaknesses of each analytical method are discussed. This initial study suggested that chemical constituents characteristic of cutin and waxes could be used as an initial marker of quality.