The sleepwear and bedding swap that could boost your skin and hair
February 11th 2019
Mind
The best pillow sprays to help you drift off to sleep
February 24th 2020 / 0 comment
Can a pillow mist really help you fall asleep? We think yes, and these are the ones we recommend
Anyone who's ever stayed over at my house or been on holiday with me will know how much I love a pillow spray - my nighttime routine isn't complete until I've liberally spritzed my bedding and a quick poll around the office revealed that we're all converts to a night time spray.
A good night’s sleep is fast becoming more of a dream than a reality for most people and while the reasons behind this are complex and far-reaching, a few small tweaks to nighttime routines can cumulatively make a huge difference thanks to carefully selected aromatherapy oils and soothing blends of calming ingredients.
There are plenty to choose from and it can be hard to decide which ones are worth investing in. So we’ve done the hard work for you. Here’s our edit of the best pillow sprays around for helping you relax and unwind.
Jo Malone Lavender and Musk Pillow Mist, £25 for 45ml
Bedtime was one area of my life I was missing that Jo Malone magic, so I was so excited to learn that this month heralded the launch of the brand's first pillow mist. As you'd expect from a fragrance brand, this spray is subtler than other pillow sprays - it doesn't immediately say "go to sleep" to me, but it's soft and comforting and definitely lovely. "When we formulated it we made sure it was light enough and not overpowering," says Celine Roux, global head of fragrance at Jo Malone. "Over the years I’ve used lavender oil on my sheets and pillows so to elevate that ritual into a mist form I kept that simplicity but added a touch of complexity like you would find in a perfume."
Bedtime Hero Pillow Mist, £20 for 30ml
The day this arrived in the office I went over to a friend's house after work and she fell so in love with the scent she whipped it off me before I had chance to spritz my bed with it. Luckily I'd already sprayed it liberally around the office so am well qualified to feedback. It's a much spicier scent than the original Neom pillow spray, harnessing the power of 11 pure essential oils including chamomile, ylang ylang and cedarwood. If you like Perfect Night's Sleep Pillow Mist, I'm certain you'll be a fan of this too - just one spray transports you to the spa (in your mind at least).
Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Sleep Mist, £28 for 50ml
I'm a long-term user of Aromatherapy Associates' Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil so you can imagine my excitement when I learned they'd made a sleep mist in the same cult blend - it's an excellent addition to my bedtime routine. I spritz it liberally over my pillows and duvet before bedding down for the best night of slumber ever. If like me you're a devotee of the rest of the range, I highly recommend this too.
BeYou Sleep Pillow Mist, £17.99 for 30ml
I first heard of BeYou thanks to the cramp busting period patches they sell, but it turns out the pillow spray is just as good. The scent is really long-lasting, so will keep you safely in the land of nod all night long and lull you back to sleep if you do wake in the night - just what you want when period paid is keeping you awake in the small hours.
Avon Aromatherapy Beauty Sleep Pillow Mist Spray, £4 for 100ml
This Avon offering was the first pillow spray I ever tried when I was about 15 and spotted it on my best friend's bedside table - 15 years on I still come back to it, which is testament to how soothing it is. At only £4 you can't go wrong, and I think of it as a bit of a gateway drug to the other more expensive sprays out there.
This Works Sleep Plus Pillow Spray, £27.50 for 75ml
This Works' Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is a permanent fixture on editorial director Victoria's bedside table, but for nights when you're really struggling to switch off you can't beat this extra strong version. Lavender, vetivert and chamomile combine to create a potent spray that 89 per cent of ex-sleep prescription medication users would use instead of sleep medication - what a seal of approval! This Works also sells a travel size version which is ideal for when you're struggling to drift off when you're away from home.
Kiss the Moon Pillow Mist, £40 for 100ml
Bedtime just got a bit more decadent thanks to the fancy atomiser on this pillow spray. It looks almost too special to use every night with a luxe combination of lavender, bergamot, chamomile and cedarwood essential oils that feels more sensuous than the other pillow sprays.
Tisserand Sleep Better Pillow Mist, £10.20
Pretty much of all of my handbags have a Tisserand rollerball in them for when I need a moment of calm and my bedroom has also been blessed by the brand with this jasmine, sandalwood and lavender mist. It's one of the dreamiest of scents making me feel cocooned in calm on nights when sleep is eluding me.
REN & Now To Sleep Pillow Spray, £19 for 75ml
First of all, can we take a minute to appreciate how cute its packaging is? Just as lovely to use as it is to look at, this subtly scented spray from REN containing soothing frankincense, calming hops and anxiety-reducing lavender not only helps put you into a deeper slumber, but it doesn’t leave you feeling groggy the next morning. Combine with one of the brand’s bath oils for the ultimate in pre-bed bliss.
Votary Rest Your Head Pillow Spray, £35 for 100ml
The most expensive in our edit, but also the largest, this pillow spritz from one of our favourite high-end skincare brands captures founder Arabella Preston’s ultimate sleep-inducing combination: memories of French lavender fields, roses in her country garden and a cup of calming chamomile tea. Its mixture of aromatherapy oils and spritely scent makes it one of the best-loved picks in this countdown.
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