M II Fe 2 O 4 (M = Fe, Zn) electric double layer ferrofluids (edl-ferrofluids) were investigated and characterized by Raman micro-spectroscopy as solids (powder) or in solution forming magnetic fluids. The Raman spectra showed that the nanoparticles forming the magnetic fluids have different compositions depending on the M II ion used in their preparation. In the case of FeFe 2 O 4 edl-ferrofluid, maghemite, magnetite, an amorphous non-stoichiometric oxyhydroxide [FeO x (OH) 3−2x , x < 1] and Fe(OH) 3 phases are present. In the case of the ZnFe 2 O 4 edl-ferrofluid, a magnetite-like structure where the Fe II centers were replaced by the Zn II ions is present. A model of the distribution of the different chemical phases on the nanoparticles is presented. The Raman spectrum of the FeFe 2 O 4 edl-ferrofluid excited close to an absorption band of the sample at 650 nm presents several Raman features above 900 cm −1 that are not observed for the ZnFe 2 O 4 edl-ferrofluid sample. These results have been interpreted considering the resonant excitation of the density of phonon states with k 6 = 0 due to quantum size effects.