You went to bed exhausted and ready to snooze, but it’s been two hours and you’re tossing, turning, and definitely not sleeping. Ugh. How many of you have ever felt personally victimized by sleepless nights?
via Giphy
That’s what I thought.
Most of us are sleep-deprived. That constant state of exhaustion is what work colleagues bond over when they meet at the coffee station for the third cup of the day (and the fourth, and the fifth…), what friends complain about over drinks (that is, when they don’t cancel plans at the last minute because they’re tired), and it’s also how too many of my social media acquaintances measure their success.
Not getting your solid 8 hours is so in these days (…but in case you can’t see me from where you’re sitting, I’m rolling my eyes). Working through the night? It must mean that you’re v. busy and v. important. Let’s be real — maybe you’re a night owl, maybe you’re bad at time management. Full disclosure: I’m both, but I still like to get all the sleep I can.
Blissful, uninterrupted sleep is essential, and no one will guilt me into thinking otherwise. Plus, it’s literally the best because you can dream about pizza and other delicious things.
I love sleep more than most, but sleep doesn’t always love me back. I’ve had trouble falling asleep for as long as I can remember, often tossing and turning until the early hours of the morning. I once very nearly gave myself a concussion jumping out of bed and onto the floor in a desperate, half-awake attempt to get comfortable. Until fairly recently, I had no idea that some people were able to nod off within minutes of going to bed.
Did you know that some people fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow…and wake up feeling refreshed?
Mind blown.
I made it my mission to become one of them. I’m not quite there yet, but I find it really helpful to have a little bedtime ritual. Mine goes like this: set alarm, plug phone in, spritz a few drops of lavender pillow mist onto my bed linens, and get comfy.
The pillow mist is a crucial step, and it’s also great for long, smelly plane rides.
Why Use Lavender Pillow Sprays
Pillow sprays are a gentle and natural way to soothe yourself to sleep. They won’t knock you out like sleeping pills, but they can help calm down an overly active or anxious mind. It’s truly magic in a bottle…if you can find the right one.
The key (and the challenge) is to find a pillow mist that actually makes you sleepy since a strong fragrance will do the opposite and wake you up. Here’s a little piece of info to keep in mind before you start spritzing lavender all over everything you own: This Works, my go-to brand for all things sleep, has done many clinical trials that show that the essential oils work for hours, long after you stop smelling them yourself.
There’s really no need to overdo it, but you’ll know if you do because you’ll be ready to do a million things that could wait until the morning, like steam every single dress you own or scrub Lush bath bomb residue off the sides of the bathtub.
Whether you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up refreshed and ready to go in the morning, these pillow sprays are worth a try.
READ MORE: discover my other bedtime faves from Saje!
This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray* ($34)
This sweet baby angel has seen me through many sleepless nights and long-haul flights over the years. This Works is an amazing British wellness and skincare brand that officially landed in Sephora just a few months ago, and I couldn’t be happier to be able to stock up on all my Deep Sleep faves without having to wait for my travels to take me to Europe.
The team at This Works knows sleep. The brand conducted a study and found that 97% of their subjects reported sleeping better when using Deep Sleep, and I can vouch for that.
The original This Works is simple but incredibly effective. Compared to similar lavender pillow sprays, the This Works Deep Sleep fragrance is well-balanced and the fragrance doesn’t overwhelm at all.
A spritz on your pillow and bed linens before bedtime will have you believe in the power of aromatherapy in no time at all. While the other lavender pillow spray from This Works targets the fitful sleepers, this one is great for worriers who struggle to fall asleep. The mix of calming lavender, vetiver, and wild chamomile essential oils work together to soothe the body and the mind. I couldn’t tell you how it works, but it does.
It’s been my ride or die sleep aid for years, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
PURCHASE IF: you can’t slow your mind down at night, you have trouble falling asleep, you’re sensitive to strong fragrances.
This Works Sleep Plus+ Pillow Spray* ($48)
If the original Deep Sleep pillow spray is beautiful in its simplicity, the This Works is just a touch more intense and as hard-working as its name implies. Thanks to its motion-activated technology, the This Works Sleep Plus+ pillow spray releases the Deep Sleep blend all through the night so that you can fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling rested and refreshed.
My main problem is falling asleep, but if you have trouble staying asleep, this could be one to try. It didn’t do much for me. The scent is a little too strong for me and irritates my (very precious, very reactive) skin, but if you’re in the market for a blend that is fresher than the original Deep Sleep and offers more benefits, pick this baby up.
If you think $48 is a bit steep (it is!), stick to the original. You won’t regret it.
PURCHASE IF: you wake up multiple times through the night, you prefer a strong scent, your skin is not sensitive.
L’Occitane Aromachologie Relaxing Pillow Mist* ($24)
Using the L’Occitane Aromachologie relaxing pillow mist is pure luxury. The heavy glass bottle, the elegant label, and even the color palette — it’s the at-home equivalent of walking into a L’Occitane store.
The mix of lavender, bergamot, mandarin, sweet orange and geranium essential oils makes for a sweeter and more herbal fragrance than the This Works options. I don’t find it quite as soothing, but it’s ideal if you want a mini pamper session every night. It’s the perfect way to start off your bedtime ritual, and it sits pretty on a bedside table. The price point makes it an attractive option, especially if you’re putting together a little care package for someone you love.
PURCHASE IF: you can’t slow your mind down at night, you have trouble falling asleep, you’re sensitive to strong fragrances.
So there you have it, three lavender pillow sprays for all budgets and bedtime concerns!
If you’re one of those people blessed with the ability to sleep anytime, anywhere, please share your secrets in the comments below! If you struggle with falling and staying asleep too, what are your bedtime essentials?
This post features products that were provided for editorial consideration.
