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
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Can a pillow mist really help you fall asleep? We think yes, and these are the ones we recommend
How have you been sleeping lately? Not so well? You're not alone. More than half of the UK population has struggled with sleep during the lockdown, according to a recent study by King's College London.
With a good night’s sleep fast becoming more of a dream than a reality for most people, 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 found in pillow mists and sleep sprays.
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.
Feather and Down Sweet Dreams Pillow Spray, £6.30
This budget pillow spray proves you don’t need to spend big money to be sent over to the land of nod. On Amazon it has a 4.5-star rating, with over 1,539 reviews - that many people can’t be wrong! Like most pillow sprays, it has a soft lavender scent combined with chamomile, and 83 per cent of people who tried it sai they fell asleep quicker than usual. I popped this in my basket in Sainsbury's, alongside the Feather and Down Sweet Dreams Sleep Butter, a few years ago and have never looked back.
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.
Bloom and Blossom All Night Long Calming Sleep Spray, £18 for 75ml
In a departure from lavender pillow mists, this blue bottle houses a fusion of frankincense and linden blossom to create a calming environment for beddybyes. It has rose flower water in it too and since rose is known to boost positivity, we'll take as much as we can get. Bloom and Blossom are known for their pillow sprays for children including their Bloom and Blossom Matilda's Magical Pillow Spray, £10 for 75ml, which has a lavender and orange blossom sent which will appeal to little noses thanks to its sweeter aroma.
Tropic So Sleepy Pillow Mist, £20 for 70ml
We love Tropic's sleep spray for how long it lingers in the air, leaving the pleasant scent of lavender and eucalyptus long after you've sprayed it. While we wouldn't normally associate eucalyptus with sleep, it's known for clearing the mind which is just what you want ahead of a peaceful slumber.
Spritz Wellness Sleep Atmosphere Mist Pillow Spray, £20 for 100ml
This lavender, mandarin and chamomile spray is among the most soothing we've tried, and even better it doubles up as a room spray as well as a pillow mist for a chilled atmosphere throughout the bedroom. It's made from pure essential oils, with the mandarin giving it an unexpected (but lovely) citrus note.
Neom 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.
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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