Salinity is a significant challenge that adversely affects agricultural activities. Crop growth reduction due to salinity is predominantly associated with the osmotic potential of the root-zone soil solution, which precipitates specific phenological alterations and subsequently reduce productivity. This research studied some management practices (irrigation with saline water using a drip irrigation system at four levels, i.e., 340 (control), 1500, 3000, and 4500 ppm, and some biostimulants, i.e. spermidine, (2.5 mM), licorice root extract (5 g/L), and α-lipoic acid (0.5 mM) as a foliar application) on reducing salt stress effects and productivity of sweet basil grown in sandy calcareous soil. The experiments were conducted in 2022 and 2023 at the Arab-El-Awamer Agricultural Research Station, Assiut, Egypt. The results showed that increasing water salinity led to a decrease in all growth characteristics, as well as decreases in photosynthetic pigments, nitrogen, and potassium. In contrast, proline, total amino acids, and sodium (Na %) levels rose with increasing salinity. Irrigating with saline water at 4500 ppm and 3000 ppm caused yield losses in dry herbs exceeding 50%. The highest essential oil content (0.92%) and oil yield (0.47 ml/plant) were obtained with water salinity (4500 and 1500 ppm), respectively, with plants sprayed with licorice root extract. Linalool and eugenol were the main components of the essential oil. Control plants contained methyl eugenol (16.28%), but treatment with licorice extract and salinity stress inhibited this substance, enhancing the quality of the essential oil. In summary, applying natural substances like licorice root extract and spermidine helped mitigate the oxidative damage caused by salt stress.