[3] The cultivar S. sclarea 'Turkestanica' bears pink stems, petiolate leaves, and white, pink-flecked blossoms on spikes that grow up to 30 inches (76 cm) tall.

In 16th-century Germany elderflower-infused clary was added to Rhine wines to make a more potent beverage known as Muscatel.

[7] The distilled essential oil of Salvia sclarea is used widely in perfumes and as a muscatel-like flavoring for vermouths, wines, and liqueurs.

[8] In the United States, this oil is mostly produced on a large scale in and around Bertie County in northeastern North Carolina.

[9] The chemical sclareol contained in clary sage oil has a low molecular weight and is absorbed transdermally.