200 g of fresh flowering spikes were collected randomly at full bloom stage (browning of lower floret stage) from the 2006-2007 crops of clary sage cultivar CIM-Chandni cultivated at CIMAP Lucknow and resource center Purara, Uttarakhand. The oil of Kashmir origin was collected from the Chemistry division of IIIM Jammu.

Linalool (23.6%), alpha-terpineol (3.8%), linalyl acetate (51.2%), beta-caryophyllene (3.2%), germacrene D (1.3%) and sclareol (1.3%) were recorded in the oil S. sclarea cultivated in Lucknow UP while the Kashmir oil sample possessed the highest percentage of linalyl acetate (60.8%) and lowest linalool (14.5%) along with alpha-terpineol (1.8%), geranyl acetate (2.2%), beta-caryophyllene (1.9%), germacrene D (2.6%) and sclareol (1.3%) as the other minor constituents. In contrast, the oil of S. sclarea from Purara in Uttarakhand showed highest percentage of linalool (29.8%), alpha-terpineol (5.3%) and sclareol (2.3%) and the lowest linalyl acetate (45.7%) among all the three samples.

Clones of T. daenensis populations were collected from 11 locations including seven locations in Fars and four locations in Kohkiluyeh provinces of Iran. The clones of T. daenensis populations were transplanted to the farm at IANRRC Research Station, located in NajafAbad (18 km west Isfahan, 32° 36′ N, 51° 26′ E and 1612 m asl) in March 2002 . Clones were grown in 5 × 2 m plots with 50 × 50 cm planting density. Fertilizers were applied prior to planting at a rate of 60 kg P/ha and 50 kg N/ha. After 3 years (2004), the aerial parts of plants were harvested at full flowering stage, dried at room temperature, and stored until analysis inside paper bags in a cool and dark place. Td1 (Fars Province, Eghlid, Asepas; Altitude: 2000); Td2 (Fars Province, Sourian, Bavanat; Altitude: 2500); Td3 (Fars Province, Abadeh, Keverlar; Altitude: 2280); Td4 (Fars Province, Abadeh -Shiraz Rd, Kolikosh; Altitude: 2400); Td5 (Fars Province, Shiraz -Yasouj Rd, Komehr; Altitude: 2415); Td6 (Fars Province, Yasouj -Shiraz Rd, Margoon; Altitude: 2170); Td7 (Fars Province, Shiraz -Isfahan Rd, Pasargad; Altitude: 2190); Td8 (Kohkiluyeh Province, Sisakht, Gol; Altitude: 2570); Td9 (Kohkiluyeh Province, Kakan; Altitude: 2200); Td10 (Kohkiluyeh Province, Yasouj -Sepidan Rd, Mahparviz; Altitude: 2660); Td11 (Kohkiluyeh Province, Sepidar, Pazanan; Altitude: 2600).

Carvacrol, thymol and geraniol were found as the main constituents in the oils of the tested populations. Variation of the oils in populations was subjected to cluster analysis and three different chemotypes including carvacrol (47.3-80.1%), thymol (53.1-72.2%) and geraniol (65.6-75.7%) were identiified. Other important components were beta-caryophyllene (1.7-9%), p-cymene (0.1-10.9%) and gamma-terpinene (0.1-7.8%). Although Thymus is known as having high thymol content in its oil, it is revealed that T. daenensis subsp. daenensis has also a high potential for carvacrol and geraniol constituents in the oil. The largest similarity of the oil components of populations was detected between Td4 and Td7 and the lowest was revealed between Td8 and Td9. The differences in the oil content and composition of the populations could be attributed to their genetic variability and they could be a good genetic source for breeding purposes.