Bedroom-Friendly Scents for a Good Night’s Sleep

You already know that lavender is great for relaxation. Here are a few other scents that’ll help you wind down.

Pristine white sheets layered beneath a fluffy duvet on top of a luxuriously comfy mattress... creating a restful retreat in the bedroom is an art.

For obvious reasons, your bed is the focal point, but other accessories play a crucial role too. Candles, specifically, can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to helping you relax and decompress after a long day.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few scents that are particularly great for sleeping and melting away tension. 

Lavender. Studies have shown that lavender can be used to combat insomnia and depression, as well as boost concentration. Lavender oil features a delicate floral scent that brings to mind fields bursting with the vibrant purple blooms. Bring these vibes home with our Relax candle, which features lavender, jasmine, and soothing camomile.

 

Peppermint. The sharp, invigorating aroma of peppermint also offers a host of benefits, such as improving alertness and mental clarity. (Think how pepped-up you feel after brushing your teeth in the morning.)

 

Lemon, Rosemary, and Orange. These scents have been reported to help cognitive function. Lemon and orange offer a citrusy, just-peeled fragrances, while rosemary gives off an herbaceous, woody aroma. Our Refresh candle will make the perfect addition to your workspace, infusing your productivity zone with fresh, zesty vibes!

 

Cedarwood. The warm, woodsy scent of cedarwood — think a cozy cabin in the woods or a cedar closet  — can help you drift off to dreamland, while easing tension and stress. Perhaps your nightstand is in need of our Zen candle (let the earthy cedar fragrance drift you off to sleep...)

 

Rose. With its delicate scent, rose is known as an aphrodisiac. Other alleged libido-boosting aromas include jasmine, neroli, clary sage, and ylang-ylang.

 

Selecting a Scent

Since scent is oh-so-personal, make sure you select a bedroom fragrance you don’t associate with stress (like that baby powder perfume you doused yourself in throughout those awkward teen years).

Ideally, the scent you choose will conjure up fond memories — maybe lavender takes you back to a summer you spent on Cape Cod, or perhaps you’re partial to the forest fragrance of pine because it transports you to the crackling fires of summer camp.

If you share a room with a partner, make sure whichever scent or candle you select is one on which you both agree.

Use, Diffuse, Then Snooze

Here are a few ideas to make that bedtime routine truly scent-sational:

One of the easiest ways to set the mood for relaxation is by lighting a candle (or a whole bunch of them). Candles cast a warm glow in the bedroom and gently release fragrance. Choose a clean-burning candle made of natural ingredients like soy or beeswax with a cotton or paper wick. Not sure where to start? All of our Allswell spa candles are made with a coconut wax blend (oh, and they're pretty cute too)!

If you’re planning to drift off, skip the candles and use an essential oils diffuser instead (safety first, after all). Simply add water and a few drops of your favorite scent, and let the smell gently waft over the room. 

There are plenty of other methods for incorporating scents into your bedroom space if you don’t have a diffuser. Our Balance Allswell room spray (which also comes in candle form!) is a fan favorite that's easy to spritz on your bedding. You can also refresh your clothing by tucking sachets into your drawers and closets.

Light a scented candle, spritz a linen spray, or plug in your diffuser — whether or not you believe the hype of scents and essential oils, you have to admit that at the very least, they smell great. And if they help you relax just a tiny bit, you can call that a win-win.