White Sage: Fragrance Profile

1. Overview

• Botanical name: Salvia apiana.

• Family: Lamiaceae (mint family).

• Part used: Leaves (dried or fresh).

• Extraction: Steam distillation → essential oil, also used dried for incense and smudging.

• Note type: Middle to base note.

2. Aroma Character

• Herbal, resinous, camphoraceous, and slightly sweet.

• Nuances:

  • Resinous-herbal → strong, cleansing, and aromatic.

  • Camphoraceous & medicinal → cool, purifying edge.

  • Earthy-woody → grounding, smoky undertones (esp. when burned).

  • Slightly sweet & balsamic → softens the sharpness, adds warmth.

• Compared to common garden sage (Salvia officinalis), white sage is sweeter, softer, and more resinous.

3. Key Components

• 1,8-Cineole (Eucalyptol) → camphoraceous, cooling.

• Camphor → sharp, medicinal freshness.

• Alpha- & beta-thujone → herbaceous intensity.

• Bornyl acetate → resinous, pine-like warmth.

• Rosmarinic acid & diterpenes → earthy, grounding tone.

4. Perfume Applications

• More common in aromatherapy and incense, but occasionally used in natural perfumes.

• Functions:

  • Aromatic-herbal note → provides freshness with depth.

  • Base/middle enhancer → earthy, smoky undertone for grounding blends.

  • Meditative blends → evokes calm and purification.

• Blends well with:

  • Woods → cedar, sandalwood, palo santo.

  • Resins → frankincense, myrrh, labdanum.

  • Herbs → rosemary, thyme, oregano.

  • Florals → lavender, neroli, jasmine (for balance).

5. Mood & Symbolism

• Sacred in many Native American traditions → used for purification, cleansing, and protection.

• Mood impressions:

  • Spiritual & purifying.

  • Grounding & meditative.

  • Protective & cleansing.

 Quick Summary Table

In essence: White Sage is a resinous, herbal, and purifying scent—less sharp than common sage, with earthy-smoky depth. In perfumery, it’s a rare but powerful note, often tied to spiritual and cleansing themes.