Sage oils are essential oils that come in several varieties:

Dalmatian sage oil

Also called English, Garden, and True sage oil. Made by

steam distillation Steam distillation is a separation process that consists in distilling water together with other volatile and non-volatile components. The steam from the boiling water carries the vapor of the volatiles to a condenser; both are cooled and re ...

of ''

Salvia officinalis ''Salvia officinalis'', the common sage or just sage, is a perennial, evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae and native to the Mediterranean region, thoug ...

'' partially dried leaves. Yields range from 0.5 to 1.0%. A colorless to yellow liquid with a warm camphoraceous, thujone-like odor and sharp and bitter taste. The main components of the oil are

thujone Thujone () is a ketone and a monoterpene that occurs predominantly in two diastereomeric ( epimeric) forms: (−)-α-thujone and (+)-β-thujone. Though it is best known as a chemical compound in the spirit absinthe, it is unlikely to be respons ...

(50%),

camphor Camphor () is a waxy, colorless solid with a strong aroma. It is classified as a terpenoid and a cyclic ketone. It is found in the wood of the camphor laurel ('' Cinnamomum camphora''), a large evergreen tree found in East Asia; and in the k ...

pinene Pinene is a collection of unsaturated bicyclic monoterpenes. Two geometric isomers of pinene are found in nature, α-pinene and β-pinene. Both are chiral. As the name suggests, pinenes are found in pines. Specifically, pinene is the major co ...

, and

cineol Eucalyptol is a monoterpenoid. A colorless liquid, it is a bicyclic ether. Eucalyptol has a fresh mint-like smell and a spicy, cooling taste. It is insoluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. Eucalyptol makes up ~70% - 90% of eu ...

Clary sage oil

Sometimes called

muscatel Muscatel ( ) is a type of wine made from muscat grapes. The term is now normally used in the United States to refer to a fortified wine made from these grapes rather than just any wine made from these grapes. This fortified muscatel became popul ...

. Made by steam or water distillation of ''

Salvia sclarea ''Salvia sclarea'', the clary or clary sage, is a biennial or short-lived herbaceous perennial in the genus ''Salvia''. It is native to the northern Mediterranean Basin, along with some areas in north Africa and Central Asia. The plant has a leng ...

'' flowering tops and foliage. Yields range from 0.7 to 1.5%. A pale yellow to yellow liquid with a herbaceous odor and a winelike bouquet. Produced in large quantities in France, Russia and Morocco. The oil contains

linalyl acetate Linalyl acetate, an organic compound, is the acetate ester of linalool. phytochemical found in many flowers and spice plants. It is one of the principal components of the essential oil An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liqu ...

linalool Linalool () refers to two enantiomers of a naturally occurring terpene alcohol found in many flowers and spice plants. Linalool has multiple commercial applications, the majority of which are based on its pleasant scent (floral, with a touch o ...

and other terpene alcohols (

sclareol Sclareol is a fragrant chemical compound found in ''Salvia sclarea'', from which it derives its name. It is classified as a bicyclic diterpene alcohol Alcohol most commonly refers to: * Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydrox ...

), as well as their acetates.

Spanish sage oil

Made by steam distillation of ''

Salvia lavandulifolia ''Salvia lavandulifolia'' (Spanish sage) is a small woody herbaceous perennial native to Spain and southern France, growing in rocky soil in Maquis shrubland, often found growing with rosemary, '' Lavandula lanata'', and '' Genista cinerea''. ' ...

'' leaves and twigs. A colorless to pale yellow liquid with the characteristic camphoraceous odor. Unlike Dalmatian sage oil, Spanish sage oil contains no or only traces of thujone;

and

eucalyptol Eucalyptol is a monoterpenoid. A colorless liquid, it is a bicyclic ether. Eucalyptol has a fresh mint-like smell and a spicy, cooling taste. It is insoluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. Eucalyptol makes up ~70% - 90% of euc ...

are the major components.

Greek sage oil

Made by steam distillation of ''

Salvia triloba ''Salvia fruticosa'', or Greek sage, is a perennial herb or sub-shrub native to the eastern Mediterranean, including Southern Italy, the Canary Islands and North Africa. It is especially abundant in Israel and Lebanon. Description Greek sage gr ...

'' leaves. Grows in Greece and Turkey. Yields range from 0.25% to 4%. The oil contains camphor, thujone, and pinene, the dominant component being eucalyptol.

Judaean sage oil

Made by steam distillation of ''

Salvia judaica ''Salvia judaica'' is a species of flowering plant in the Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and includ ...

'' leaves. The oil contains mainly

cubebene Cubebenes are a pair of chemical compounds, classified as sesquiterpenes, first isolated from ''Piper cubeba'' berries, known as cubebs. The volatile oil from the distillation of cubebs is a pale green or blue-yellow viscous liquid with a warm ...

and

ledol Ledol is a poisonous sesquiterpene that can cause cramps, paralysis, and delirium. Caucasian peasants used ''Rhododendron'' plants for these effects in shamanistic rituals. Sources Ledol is found in labrador tea, an herbal tea (not a true tea) ...

References

{{reflist Essential oils Flavors