The opening is herbal and slightly green, reminiscent of lavender but warmer and sweeter, with a distinctly edible, wine-like quality that sets it apart immediately. Linalool is the dominant aroma component and gives it a soft, floral transparency that keeps the herbaceousness from becoming sharp or medicinal. The heart settles into something deeply warm and nutty-herbaceous, almost balsamic, with a grape-like sweetness that makes it one of the few essential oils with a genuinely gourmand facet. The drydown is quiet and musk-adjacent, lasting well for a herbal material at 20 hours on a smelling strip. It has an almost sedating quality when inhaled neat, which is part of what makes it so effective in aromatherapy contexts.

Clary Sage Essential Oil works as a top-to-heart note modifier with exceptional versatility across fragrance families and product categories.

Recommended concentration: 0.1% minimum, 1% average, up to 4% maximum in a finished compound.

Particularly effective in:

Fougere and lavender-forward cologne structures
Herbaceous and aromatic masculine compositions
Wine and muscat grape-adjacent accords
Warm floral heart structures needing an herbal lift
Aromatherapy and wellness blends for relaxation
Candles, pot pourri, and incense (rated excellent for all three)
Personal care including antiperspirant, soap, shampoo, and hair care (rated very good to excellent)

Blends well with:

Herbs: lavender, juniper, coriander, cardamom
Florals: jasmine, geranium
Citrus: bergamot and other citrus oils
Woods and resins: cedarwood, sandalwood, pine, labdanum, frankincense
Often used with: Hedione, Iso E Super for modern fougere and aromatic structures

Note: only fair performance in alcoholic fine fragrance applications due to stability considerations; performs exceptionally well in rinse-off and leave-on personal care.

Material Type: Essential oil
Botanical Name: Salvia sclarea
Common Names: Clary Sage, Muscatel Sage, Eye Bright, Clarry, Muscatel
Plant Part: Flowering tops and leaves
Extraction Method: Steam distillation
CAS Number: 8016-63-5
FEMA Number: 2321
Origin: Mediterranean region
Odour Profile: Herbaceous, warm, lavender-like, grassy-balsamic, sweet, nutty, faintly wine-like and gourmand
Appearance: Colourless to pale straw-green liquid
Specific Gravity: 0.889
Flash Point: 61.11°C
Boiling Point: 210°C
Solubility: Soluble in alcohol and oils
Key Components: Linalyl acetate, linalool, alpha-terpineol, sclareol, germacrene D
Regulatory Status: SDS and/or IFRA documentation can be supplied upon request where available.

For external use only. Do not ingest
Unlike common sage (Salvia officinalis), clary sage contains virtually no thujone and is significantly safer for general use
Avoid use during pregnancy
Do not use before driving or operating machinery; may have mild sedating effects
Dilute before skin application; patch test recommended for sensitive individuals
Avoid contact with eyes
Flammable liquid; flash point 61.11°C; keep away from heat, sparks, and open flames
Store tightly sealed in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight
Shelf life: 3-4 years when stored correctly