Sage

• Type: Wand Wood
• Owners: None are specified within the original novels. (Pottermore)
• Maker: N/A (The wood is a natural material, though its properties as a wand component were studied by makers like Garrick Ollivander). (Pottermore)

Sage is a wood derived from the common herbaceous plant of the same name, which is known for its greyish-green leaves and woody stems. The specific appearance of a finished wand made from sage is not described, but its magical characteristics are well-documented by wandlore experts. (Pottermore)

According to the notes of Garrick Ollivander, sage is a controversial and often misunderstood wand wood. Its properties are deeply connected to the wisdom and integrity of its owner. (Pottermore)

• Reputation vs. Reality: It was once considered an unlucky wood, a belief that stemmed from the Muggle practice of burning sage to ward off evil. This led some witches and wizards to burn their sage wands, fearing them to be jinxed. Ollivander's research, however, revealed that sage is not unlucky but rather intensely selective and powerful. (Pottermore)
• Ideal Owner: Sage wands choose owners who are profoundly wise, a characteristic reflected in the wood's name. It is said that a sage wand is unusable by any who are not willing to learn from it and its experiences. Owners are often far-sighted individuals who may present themselves as humble scholars or researchers. (Pottermore)
• Discerning Nature: The wood is highly sensitive to imposture, both in its owner and in others it encounters. It cannot be deceived and refuses to perform for an owner it deems unworthy. (Pottermore)
• Transfer of Ownership: When a sage wand is inherited or won, it will either accept the new owner immediately or, if the new owner does not meet its high standards of wisdom and integrity, it may wither and die. (Pottermore)

The history of sage as a wand wood is marked by a significant misunderstanding. For a long period, it was deemed unlucky due to its association with purification rituals that involved burning it to expel evil spirits. This led to a time when sage wands were feared and often destroyed by their owners. (Pottermore) It was through the dedicated work of wandlore experts like Garrick Ollivander that its true properties were documented. His research established it as a wood that aligns with wisdom and integrity rather than misfortune, thus rehabilitating its reputation in the wizarding world. (Pottermore)

Sage is not mentioned as a wand wood, ingredient, or in any other capacity within the seven original Harry Potter novels. Its properties and use in wandlore are detailed exclusively in supplementary materials released after the book series was completed.

• All canonical information regarding sage as a wand wood originates from J.K. Rowling's writings on the Pottermore website, now known as Wizarding World. (Pottermore)
• The wood's properties are a direct play on the dual meaning of the word “sage”: an aromatic herb used for cleansing and a profoundly wise person. This reflects Ollivander's discovery that the wood is not for warding off evil, but for the truly sagacious.
• The real-world spiritual practice of smudging, which involves burning sage bundles to purify a space or person, is the likely origin for the wizarding world's historical misconception that the wood was unlucky or associated with evil that needed to be expelled.