Sage oil facts for kids

Sage oils are special essential oils that come from different kinds of sage plants. These oils are known for their unique smells and are used in many things, like perfumes, soaps, and even some foods. They are made by taking parts of the sage plant and using a process called steam distillation to get the oil out.

What Are Sage Oils?

Sage oils are natural liquids taken from various sage plants. They are called "essential oils" because they capture the "essence" or main smell and flavor of the plant. People have used sage for a very long time for its scent and other helpful properties.

Dalmatian Sage Oil

This oil is also known as English, Garden, or True sage oil. It comes from the Salvia officinalis plant. To make it, the plant's leaves are partly dried and then put through a process called steam distillation. This method uses steam to pull the oil out of the plant.

The oil is usually clear or light yellow. It has a warm, strong smell that might remind you of camphor, which is a scent found in some medicines. It can also have a sharp or bitter taste. The main natural chemicals in this oil are thujone (about 50%), camphor, pinene, and cineol.

Clary Sage Oil

Sometimes, this oil is called muscatel. It is made from the flowering tops and leaves of the Salvia sclarea plant. Like other sage oils, it's made using steam or water distillation.

Clary sage oil is a pale yellow liquid. It has a fresh, grassy smell and a sweet, fruity scent, almost like wine. This oil is produced in large amounts in countries like France, Russia, and Morocco. The main natural chemicals in Clary sage oil include linalyl acetate and linalool.

Spanish Sage Oil

This oil comes from the leaves and twigs of the Salvia lavandulifolia plant. It is made by steam distillation.

Spanish sage oil is a clear or very light yellow liquid. It has a strong, fresh smell, similar to camphor. What makes it different from Dalmatian sage oil is that it has very little or no thujone. Instead, its main natural chemicals are camphor and eucalyptol, which gives it a fresh, eucalyptus-like scent.

Greek Sage Oil

Greek sage oil is made from the leaves of the Salvia triloba plant. This plant grows naturally in countries like Greece and Turkey.

The oil contains natural chemicals such as camphor, thujone, and pinene. The most common chemical in Greek sage oil is eucalyptol, which gives it a strong, clear scent.

Judaean Sage Oil

This type of sage oil is made from the leaves of the Salvia judaica plant. It is also produced using steam distillation.

The main natural chemicals found in Judaean sage oil are cubebene and ledol. These chemicals give it its unique properties and smell.