Fresh savory has a strong spicy-peppery flavor and resinous odor similar to thyme. Prior to widespread use of long pepper and black pepper, savory filled a similar role in European cuisine.
There are two common varieties of savory: Summer Savory can be slightly less bitter and more tender than Winter Savory, but they can be used interchangably.
The non-organic variety is usually summer savory, whereas the organic variety is usually winter savory. A different variety may be substituted due to availability.