Salvia

SALVIA

The Origin of Salvias

What's in Salvias?

The salvia family grows all over the world and loves tough, barren areas of Europe, Asia and the Americas, but is originally native to Europe*. There are more than 900 species, with a huge diversity of flower shapes and sizes. Its colours range from deep reds and pinks to blues and purples, and with a cool, minty aroma.

The most famous and widely used members are Salvia officinalis (common sage), Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary) and Salvia hispanica (chia), which all feature in Salvarity's products. For centuries, common sage was used by the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans to heal minor skin wounds, as a culinary herb and for sacred ceremonies.

As you might guess from their aromas, salvias are also closely related to mint, and many of the substances are what we call aromatics, combining to give them all their unique fragrances.

But they don’t just smell great. As described in more than 12,000 publications on Salvia ’s chemical composition, they are packed with a broad spectrum, skin-loving substances that provide antioxidant, antibacterial, cleansing, clarifying, calming and moisturizing properties*, amongst many others.

Salvias, an effective skincare ingredient

Sustainability of Salvias

Fun Facts - What Makes Salvias So Special?

Salvias aren’t just great for your skin—they’re great for the environment too! These resilient plants thrive in dry climates requiring less water, grow quickly, and are naturally resilient to pests, eliminating the need for fertilizers or pesticides. They also play a vital role in supporting pollination and biodiversity, providing nectar for bees and other insect pollinators.

Environmental & Sustainability benefits

Tolerant to dry climates
Vigorous growth with no to little input – low footprint
Pest resistant
Home and food to bees, birds, butterflies, - support pollination & biodiversity

Like teenagers, Salvia flowers are adaptable, clever, and full of surprises. One of their most
fascinating features is a hidden natural mechanism called the staminal lever mechanism* - a
smart evolutionary trick that helps the plant thrive.

When a bee lands on a Salvia flower to collect nectar, its weight presses down on a special part of
the flower - the stamen, which carries the pollen. In most flowers, the stamen is fixed in place. But not in Salvia.

In Salvia flowers, the stamen acts like a little lever. It gently pivots to touch the bee’s back, carefully
placing pollen there. This makes pollination more precise and more successful, helping the plant
spread and survive in even tough environments.

Watch this incredible plant action in real-time

"Smart, gentle, and built for resilience" - just like our skin should be.