Organic Clary Sage Essential Oil

Fragrance: Sweet and herbaceous, with slightly musky and earthy notes

Botanical Name: Salvia sclarea 

Emotional Effect: Calming and gently uplifting

Method of Extraction: Steam Distillation of Flowering Tops and Leaves

Clary Sage has a gentle yet firm effect. It is like a friend who loves you and wants you to be fulfilled, and encourages you to care for yourself. In a song my daughter once played to me there was the lyric "If I asked you to name all the things that you love, how long would it take for you to mention you?" It stopped me in my tracks and reduced me to tears. I realised I would probably never name myself. Clary Sage oil  reminds us of our duty to love ourselves, even if it requires conscious effort at first.

Unsurprisingly, this quality means Clary Sage can be very helpful when you are feeling unhappy. A study of women in their 50's found it inhibited depressive tendencies and it has been shown to have be able to inhibit chemical pathways that cause depression. As well as raising your spirits, when inhaled, it can lower your pulse rate a biological change associated with relaxation, an effect which seemed to be more pronounced in women. Another study has even shown how it can be helpful to women suffering from PMS to improve their autonomic function, which has implications not just for immediate relaxation, but for overall health and life expectancy. Given all these effects, it is easy to see why it is sometimes referred to as "a gift to the female".

When blended with citrus oils, I find it calms the overall blend so I experience the uplift of the citrus oils while remaining mentally clear and present. When combined with Roman Chamomile in a carrier oil and rubbed onto the soles of your feet at night time it can help to make for a more peaceful night's slumber. However, my current favourite Clary Sage blend is with Roman Chamomile and Ylang Ylang to create a deeply relaxing and rejuvenating blend. I find a few drops of each in jojoba oil perfect for end of the day self-care after a shower or bath - for me, it's a self-care ritual that reminds me that, whatever else happens, I am here for me.