Clary Sage

Clary Sage Essential Oil

This oil is usually associated with deep relaxation and also for women in particular. Clary sage smells nothing like sage--it blends easily with many oils.

Product information

Salvia sclarea

Steam distilled in France from the flowering tops of organically grown plant material

Clary sage grows all over temperate climates, especially in the Mediterranean area. They say the biggest clary sage users are tobacco companies, who incorporate clary sage concrete into their tobacco blends. That should indicate it’s got some relaxing benefits I would think. In any event, this perennial  is cultivated on a large scale, worldwide.

Acrtander says

Clary sage oil is colorless to pale yellow or pale olive liquid, sweet-herbaceous in odor, soft and somewhat reminiscent of ambra in its bittersweet undertone. Apart from the initial linalylacetate-linalool notes, there is a very characteristic note in the odor of clary sage oil. The note remains in the dryout note on a perfume blotter. Some perfumers describe it as tobacco-like, others as balsamic or tealike. It also has something in common with the odor of cistus and Moroccan chamomile.

Clary sage oil is used in perfumery as an individual body or as a modifier for bergamot oil, lavender, etc or for ambra notes with labdanum extracts, cistus oil, frankincense resinoid,….in chypre bases, fougères, Oriental and tabac-type fragrances and in modern fantasy creations. It blends beautifully with coriander, cardamom, citrus, lavandin, lavender, geranium, sandalwood, etc.

For perfumery, blends well with bergamot, lavender, citrus, frankincense, sandalwood, clove, atlas cedar, geranium and coriander.

It’s also used extensively in flavors.

Battaglia says

There are many pharmacological studies with clary sage published and he lists them:

Anticonvulsive activity

Antidepressant activity

Antifungal activity

Anti-inflammatory activity

Antimicrobial acivity

Dysmenorrhea

In labour

Sedative activity

Clary sage is used in clinical aromatherapy for the following:

Nervous system—beneficial for relieving stress, anxiety, nervous tension and depression

Psychological to calm the mind, nervous tension, emotional shock, etc

Reproductive system throughout menstruation, childbirth and menopause

Respiratory system for asthma and the anxiety and tension that arise from it.

Skin care for excess sweating and oily skin/hair

For aromatherapy blending for hormonal issues, consider blending with Roman chamomile, sweet fennel, geranium, lavender, sweet marjoram, and rose absolute/rose otto.

For anxiety and stress, or depression, try blending with bergamot, cedar, orange, neroli, jasmine, petitgrain, patchouli, sandalwood, ylang ylang, etc

See more in The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy

Not to be used using pregnancy.