I always wondered why "clary sage" smelled nothing like the sage that most people use for their Thanksgiving stuffing. And it smelled nothing like the Russian sage plant that grew in my yard. Nor the sage that grew in our local botanical gardens.
Why? Because clary sage is not the same thing as culinary sage.
I've smelled clary sage only twice, from different sources. Both times it was a yucky smell. Dirty, dark, bitter. Which is why I was so confused, because it doesn't smell at all like the distinctive spice sage, which can be aromatic, but yummy. Clary sage is often said to aid in clairvoyance. Whether that is true or not, I don't know. But it certainly didn't help me with its own identity.