How bedtime fragrances became the elegant way to elevate your evening
When Marilyn Monroe famously said she wears nothing but Chanel No.5 to bed, perhaps she meant to seduce – or perhaps, she was ahead of her time in adopting a bedtime fragrance.
The more that scientists discover about the close relationship between scent, emotion and memory, the more we've been turning to fragrance to help lift moods, boost confidence and remind us of specific times. It begs the question: if a rosy scent can evoke memories of a romantic evening and citrusy spritzes can make a winter’s day feel a little brighter, shouldn’t we have a signature scent for a good night’s sleep?
Fragrance expert Eudora Nwasike says yes. “We all know the key to having a good night’s rest is clean bedding, the perfect room temperature and great air quality. However, I love to take it up a notch by wrapping myself in a blanket of gentle fragrance,” she explains.
“The power fragrance holds is greatly underestimated: if it is good enough to make you feel great during the day, it can do the same for your sleep. Adding a bedtime fragrance to my routine brings a sense of peace and tranquillity to my mind and body.”
Why you should consider a bedtime fragrance
“Creating a bedtime routine sends powerful signals to your brain that it is time to wind down and prepare for sleep,” says Hayley Pedrick, the founder and head clinician at nutrition and functional medicine clinic Habitude. “By establishing a nightly ritual before bed, you’re essentially training your brain to recognise specific cues to relax, which makes it easier for you to fall asleep.
“Scent can be a powerful facilitator in this process. It’s well-documented that smells can evoke memories, influence our mood, alleviate tension and even shape behaviour. By incorporating certain calming aromas into your bedtime routine, you may even enhance the quality and quantity of your sleep.”
The journalist and fragrance connoisseur Alice du Parcq believes that fragrance can deliver a “feeling of reassurance, comfort and safety”. She explains: “Bedtime is a great time [to incorporate scent] because at night, that's when the demons come out, thoughts are spiralling, and we have the hamster brain of doom and gloom. Just having a scent nearby, whether that's a diffuser, an actual perfume or little fragranced balm, can be a real solace. The association of something calming and soothing at bedtime can be so powerful.”
Pedrick recommends pillow sprays, pulse-point roll-ons or a body mist that is designed for bedtime as they are gentler than your everyday perfume, but there are benefits to opting for a personal scent.
Aerin Cedar Violet EDP
Givenchy Coeur Fou EDP
Edeniste Wellbeing
Chanel Les Exclusifs de Chanel Jersey EDP
Pillow mists vs personal perfume
It’s all down to your preference. The soothing, spa-like scent of a pillow mist is always lovely, but not everyone is a fan of aromatic notes such as lavender (the most common ingredient found in home scents designed for unwinding).
Personal perfumes, on the other hand, come in a vast range to suit your taste. Rather than an ingredient scientifically proven to aid rest, your calming note, for example, might be jasmine because of relaxing associations you have with it. “There are various scent profiles to choose from when seeking a bedtime fragrance – whether fresh, aromatic, floral or woody,” says Nwasike. “Fragrances that have a green or tea-like quality to them are ideal for bedtime, too.”
Plus, pillow mists are primarily designed for bed linens only. “The formulation of a pillow mist is much lighter than a bedtime fragrance because it is created with distilled water, a small amount of alcohol and an essential oil,” explains Nwasike. Meanwhile, personal fragrance – as the name suggests – is worn on your person (or on your pyjamas, if you prefer not to go to bed wearing perfume directly on skin), and can be of an eau-de-toilette or eau-de-parfum strength, thus cocooning you in a scent cloud as you unwind for the evening.
The effects of scent on the mind and wellbeing
Perfume brand Edeniste is a known trailblazer in the “wellness fragrance” space, delivering scents designed to support wellbeing.
“We’ve collaborated with renowned neuroscientists to measure the physiological and emotional effects of scent on the brain and body,” says founder Audrey Semeraro. “One of our key studies, conducted with CNRS [the French National Centre for Scientific Research] and Dr Jérémie Topin, involved testing biosensors to measure changes in cortisol and alpha-amylase levels, two biomarkers linked to stress," she explains.
"Participants were exposed to fragrances with our patented De-Stress Accord, and the results showed a significant reduction in these stress markers, demonstrating how scent can help regulate mood and emotional states. This cutting-edge research validates the profound impact that scientifically formulated fragrances can have on wellbeing.”
Pedrick seconds this. Here are three ways that she believes scent can contribute to a more restful evening:
1/ Supporting sleep patterns. Certain scents, like rose, have been shown to improve learning and memory recall, helping your brain solidify good sleep habits and making it easier to maintain a consistent rhythm over time.
2/ Promoting relaxation. Scents can shift your body from “fight or flight” mode to a calmer, restrictive state ideal for restful sleep.
3/ Deepening sleep quality. Specific aromas like lavender and vanilla have been shown to increase the power of delta brainwaves and sleep spindles during NREM sleep which is when your body repairs itself, rejuvenating cells and fostering health and recovery.
How to find a bedtime fragrance
“A bedtime scent differs from what you pick for daytime or an evening out in terms of the energy and the emotions that you want to access,” says du Parcq, who recommends looking at your current collection and seeing what makes you feel nurtured and at ease.
“It doesn't have to be a musky, powdery scent. It could just be something that you love the smell of; something that makes you feel calm. There are no rules,” she adds, name-checking Lorenzo Villoresi Teint de Neige and & Other Stories Blank Pages as firm favourites of hers. Nwasike, meanwhile, gravitates towards Les Eaux Primordiales Iris Palladium and Givenchy Cœur Fou. On my bedside table, you’ll find Aerin Cedar Violet and Byredo Blanche, as both remind me of clean bedsheets.
Lorenzo Villoresi Teint de Neige EDP
& Other Stories Blank Pages EDT
Les Eaux Primordiales Iris Palladium EDP
Byredo Blanche EDP
As du Parcq says, the options are endless when it comes to finding the right bedtime scent for you. If you’re not sure where to start, Semeraro recommends “dry, woody, and musky notes as they evoke a grounding effect on the nervous system”. Edeniste Destress Accord features Iso E Super, ambroxan and cedarwood for this very reason.
“These notes not only create a calming atmosphere but also promote a sense of warmth and safety.” adds Semeraro. “Additionally, soft floral and green notes can complement these accords, offering a multidimensional approach to relaxation.”
So pull on your pyjamas, spritz some perfume and let the waft of serenity ease you into the evening.
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