Do Sleep Perfumes Actually Work? Experts Break Down the TikTok Trend

Courtesy of Cayla Gray

What Is Sleep Perfume?

Sleep perfumes are fragrances and scents that people wear for bedtime, either to relax or to help them sleep better. These perfumes don't necessarily have to be marketed to sleep, though. They can be daily scents that are everything from nostalgic and fresh to cozy and gourmand. Still, with this trend taking off, more and more fragrances are coming out now that are specifically for sleeping. 

"The nighttime fragrance was something that I really wanted to represent something a little bit softer, a little bit more of a quieter moment, something that smells when you're wrapped up with cozy blankets," Kussman told E!. "You want it to last through the night, but it's something that you don't want to overpower you when you lay your head down at night."

For Lawler, good sleep hygiene should be the most important part of your nighttime routine—scent is just a part of it. "If there's something that smells good and something that triggers relaxation, that's always going to be a positive thing," she said. 

What Are the Benefits of a Sleep Perfume?

There are plenty of benefits to using sleep perfumes during your bedtime routine. The secret is all in the connection between your senses and your mind, emotions, and body. A specific scent can trigger full-body relaxation to get you in the right state of mind to sleep soundly. 

"There are some limited studies about something like lavender or chamomile being calming, but I think the stronger association is the mental conditioning, which is still incredibly powerful," Lawler told E!. "And so if you have a scent and then go to sleep, and you have a great night of sleep. You kind of tie that to this scent."

For both Lawler and Kussman, the scent is connected to a habit or ritual. We all know our sense of smell is the strongest one that connects to our memories; that's what makes it so nostalgic. It doesn't have to be a childhood memory or a specific vacation, either. It can be as simple as your sleep routine. 

Still, sleep perfumes won't work as a band-aid solution to bad sleep hygiene. "If you have made all of the mistakes on the sleep hygiene front and then hope to dose yourself in lavender and sleep really well, it's not going to work. And then we don't want this smell to be the reminder of how much we're not sleeping," Lawler explained. 

Best Sleep Perfumes & Fragrances for Bed

When it comes to sleep perfumes, notes like lavender, eucalyptus, and chamomile are perfect for relaxation. Still, other cozy smells like vanilla can be very calming, as well. "I would probably stay more herbal and less floral, but I think it's really up to the individual. And what gives you, in your heart, in your chest, that warm feeling, that release." Lawler said. 

"The goal isn't to fix your sleep. It's to create a consistent cue. Something that night after night tells you it's okay to let the day go," Kussman said. 

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