Refugio Gardens Botanicals
Honeybutton Sage Essential Oil – Sustainably Wild Grown, Artisan-Distilled, Pure & Genuine (Salvia mellifera)
Honeybutton Sage Essential Oil – Sustainably Wild Grown, Artisan-Distilled, Pure & Genuine (Salvia mellifera)
Couldn't load pickup availability
Honeybutton Sage Essential Oil
Salvia mellifera — “Black Sage”
California’s Aromatic Healer
Honeybutton Sage (Salvia mellifera), also known as Black Sage, is one of California’s most aromatic native sages. Long valued for its warming, clarifying, and protective qualities, the essential oil carries rich herbal–camphor notes with sweet resinous undertones—grounding yet invigorating.
Sustainably wild grown and artisan-distilled in small batches on private ranch land in Santa Barbara County, each drop reflects the wild, resinous character of chaparral hillsides where coastal air meets the mountains.
Aroma & Character
- Fragrance: Warm, resinous, camphoraceous with sweet herbal depth
- Note: Middle
- Energetics: Warming, protective, clarifying
Discovery & Innovation
In 1997, Dr. Amy Inez Hazard performed the first known artisan steam-distillation of Salvia mellifera (Honeybutton Sage), capturing its essential oil for the very first time. While the plant had long been valued in Native Californian tradition for teas, poultices, and smudges, its essential oil was previously undiscovered.
The initial distillation revealed a resinous, camphoraceous, and slightly peppery-green oil with remarkable grounding and clarifying effects. This marked the beginning of Honeybutton Sage essential oil as a recognized aromatic in modern herbal practice.
Refugio Gardens continues to distill small-batch, GC–MS verified Honeybutton Sage oil today, remaining the first commercial source of this rare California native essential oil.
Uses & Benefits
- Traditional cleansing: supports purification and ceremonial use
- Respiratory clarity: camphoraceous notes help open and clear
- Grounding & focus: stabilizes mood; anchors meditation
- Natural body care: blends well in salves, balms, and massage oils
Chemistry & Research
Research on Salvia mellifera highlights antioxidant and protective diterpenes (e.g., carnosic acid, carnosol) and ursane-type triterpenes. The essential oil commonly features sabinene, 1,8-cineole, and β-pinene, aligning with its clarifying, resinous aroma and traditional respiratory support. †
Sustainability & Harvesting
Our Salvia mellifera is wildharvested responsibly, with selective tops taken to protect plant vigor and pollinator habitat. Steam-distilled at low temperatures in small artisan runs to preserve full aromatic nuance.
Experience Wild California
Let the warming herbal–camphor scent of Honeybutton Sage connect you with the chaparral’s rugged spirit—wild California in a bottle. Read the full botanical profile: Therapeutics of Honeybutton Sage.
Honeybutton Sage FAQ
What is Honeybutton Sage essential oil?
An artisan-distilled oil from Salvia mellifera with a warm, resinous, camphoraceous fragrance, long valued in California tradition for its clarifying and protective qualities.
How do I use Honeybutton Sage essential oil?
Diffuse for respiratory clarity, blend (diluted) into massage oils or balms, or use in meditation and ritual. Always patch test before skin use.
Is it sustainably sourced?
Yes. Only selective tops are gathered, ensuring regrowth and pollinator health. All batches are small-scale artisan distillations at Refugio Gardens.
What research supports its benefits?
Honeybutton Sage contains 1,8-cineole, sabinene, and β-pinene with antimicrobial and clarifying effects, along with diterpenes like carnosic acid studied for antioxidant and neuroprotective activity.
Disclaimer: For educational and traditional use only. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always patch test; dilute before skin use. Consult a qualified practitioner if pregnant, nursing, or under medical care.
† For references and research details, see our References page.
Share
Safety & Cautions
Safety & Cautions
- Please be advised to keep essential oils out of reach of pets and children.
- Please avoid using photosensitive essential oils (Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Orange, Bergamot, Tangerine, Calm Shen Blend and any products made with these oils such as Santa Barbara Goldenbush Lotion) prior to going out in the sun or using a tanning booth as they can react to sunlight and cause something similar to a severe sunburn.
- It is advised to void continuous long term use of the same essential oils.
- Be sure to research the powerful effects of essential oils before use.
- Use diluted essential oils on the skin (Carrier oils like Jojoba are great for this in a 10% essential oil to 90% carrier base oil ratio).
- It is advised to patch test on a small portion of sensitive skin and discontinue if there is irritation or a negative reaction.
- Please know the safety data and specific warnings on an individual oil or Blend before using.
- And please use careful caution using essential oils during pregnancy. Any use should be approved by a medical provider.
- Its important to keep essential oils away from your eyes. If oil does get in your eye, do not flush it out with water. You can dilute the area immediately with vegetable or carrier oil by placing the vegetable oil on a tissue and gently wiping the eye area.
- Also essential oils are flammable so please avoid direct contact with flames such as candles.
- Please do not use essential oils internally unless properly trained and prescribed by a physician. If accidentally swallowed, call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) immediately and do not induce vomiting.
