The best pillow sprays to help you relax and unwind
Whether it’s a poorly timed yawn during a morning meeting or an overwhelming craving for coffee come 4pm, an uninterrupted forty winks can catch up with you in myriad ways. If you often find yourself struggling to unwind and doze off, it could be worth incorporating a pillow mist into your bedtime routine.
“A pillow spray is a light solution that can be sprayed across pillows and nightwear before you go to bed to help you fall asleep more soundly,” explains MFHT aromatherapist Simone Stevens. “It’s often made from water and essential oils.”
Below, you’ll find the mists the GH editors love to spritz on their pillows, along with some expert advice on how to pick the right spray for you. Peaceful sleep incoming…
Looking for more bedtime solutions? Check out these Tried and Tested sleep gadgets, from vibrating eye masks to sleep trackers.
What’s the best pillow mist to buy in 2024?
Are pillow sprays worth it?
Let’s be clear – a pillow mist isn’t a miracle cure for poor sleepers, whether you’re experiencing menopausal night sweats or you’re dealing with insomnia. There simply isn’t enough robust scientific evidence around them yet.
But there’s no denying they smell gorgeous and can help you feel calmer. “Pillow sprays are a subtle yet powerful way to elevate your sleep routine,” says Simone. “The right blend of essential oils and ingredients can help reduce stress and anxiety, calm the mood and could even help you fall asleep faster.”
To ensure you reap the therapeutic rewards, she says it’s important to choose a mist that contains natural ingredients and essential oils. “Synthetic fragrances will not provide the desired outcome of a restful night’s sleep,” she advises.
If you’re struggling with persistent poor sleep, we’d always recommend reaching out to your GP for specialist medical advice.
What’s the best oil for pillow sprays?
When it comes to choosing the best pillow spray for sleep, Simone says it’s important to go for one with calming properties, not one that will stimulate your senses. “There have been many scientific studies that suggest certain essential oils such as lavender can advance sleep quality,” she says.
She also suggests looking out for products that include chamomile, jasmine and frankincense, which are said to calm the breathing and soothe anxious thoughts.
“Ideally, you want to avoid essential oils or ingredients that increase alertness, such as rosemary, mint and some citrus fruits such as lemon,” she adds.
These are the ones the GH editors are spritzing before bed.
Deep Sleep Pillow Spray
This Deep Sleep spray, which is scented with lavender, chamomile and vertivert botanical oil, is a favourite among the GH team and has received a whopping 13,940 five-star reviews on Amazon.
According to its fans, the fast-acting, motion-activated pillow mist really does work, gradually releasing sleep-inducing aromas as you move around throughout the night and helping you doze off more quickly. It will also make your bedroom smell like a luxury spa.
Sleep Better Pillow Mist
Tisserand Aromatherapy is known for its luxurious range of mood-enhancing mists – there’s everything from ‘energy boost’ to ‘de-stress’ – but our favourite is the brand’s dedicated sleep spray. Made from a 100% pure blend of jasmine, sandalwood and lavender essential oils, it smells heavenly and will help soothe your racing mind as you wind down.
The Ritual of Jing Pillow & Body Mist
Rituals knows a thing or two about spa-worthy scents, and this sandalwood and lavender blend is proof of that. Herbal and woody, it’s a good choice for those who aren’t fans of sweeter smells. Spritz the stain-free spray on to your pillow before brushing your teeth to give it time to permeate and drift off into the land of nod…
Sleep Soothing Pillow Mist
It may be pricier than some of the other sleep sprays listed here but rest assured, it’s a worthy investment for a restful night’s sleep. The essential oil blend combines lavender, clary sage and chamomile and, as you’d expect with
As you'd expect with The White Company, the scent is gorgeous and long-lasting, without being overpowering.
Sweet Dreams Pillow Spray
If this is your first foray into the world of pillow sprays, Feather & Down’s all-natural mist is an excellent starter choice.
With a blend of chamomile and lavender, the scent is traditional without being over-powering or sickly sweet. Don’t just take our word for it – the spray has almost 10,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
Sleep Soundly Pillow Mist
If you want to treat yourself or a loved one to something special, this sleep spray from luxury brand OTO – chances are, you’ve come across its CBD-infused skincare on social media – is a dreamy pick.
It smells divine thanks to the stress-melting blend of aromatherapy oils including chamomile, ylang ylang, lavender and mandarin. According to OTO, the ingredients are sustainably sourced and 95% are naturally derived. Spritz it on your pillow and PJs before you slide under the cover and you’re good to go.
Pillow Mist Lavender & Sweet Marjoram
Another great-value option from Botanics. This classic mist, made with a dreamy blend of lavender and sweet marjoram essential oils, is ideal for spritzing on your pillow as you dive into bed.
It has a subtle scent that’s not too overwhelming and you’ll be pleased to know the lavender smells fresh and not too floral or musty. The fine mist won’t leave marks all over your pillowcase, either.
Need some extra R&R? Rub the brand’s stress-melting massage oil into your weary limbs before you drift off.
Sleep Body & Pillow Mist
This body and pillow spray from popular Ayurvedic beauty brand Spa Ceylon is an excellent multitasker – spritz it over yourself and your pillow to give your skin a boost and prepare yourself for a peaceful night’s kip.
The quick-drying, non-oily mist includes sleep-inducing lavender, cooling aloe vera and calming ylang ylang, as well as sweet almond, patchouli, witch hazel and notes of orange and lemon. The gentle mist is free from parabens and alcohol, too.
Perfect Night’s Sleep Pillow Mist
Combining the power of 14 essential oils, a single spritz of this very mellow mist will help your mind to unwind. Still not feeling the soporific effects? It’s also available as a body balm and candle to envelope your skin and space in its soothing scent.
Restful Sleep Pillow Mist
Another luxurious option, this fine mist is formulated with natural, vegan and cruelty-free essential oils. It includes sleep-inducing lavender, bergamot to relax the body and amyris to calm the mind.
Unlike some sprays, the lavender scent is recognisable but not overpowering. Spritz a couple of pumps on to your pillow before you hit the hay and let the sweet dreams roll in.
Sleepeaze Lavender Pillow Mist
Another budget-friendly pick, Boots’s signature sleep spray is designed to help you de-stress and slip into a gentle, easy slumber. It strikes the perfect balance between floral lavender, sweet mandarin and nutty cedarwood and is a dream to sniff before snoozing. The ultra fine mist won’t stain your sheets and will linger throughout the night.
Lavender Relaxing Pillow Mist
L’Occitane’s Relaxing Pillow Mist features five key notes – lavender, bergamot, mandarin, sweet orange and geranium – which are guaranteed to make you feel zen as you crawl under the covers. The fragrance is light, fresh and indulgent, and the scent will last on your pillow all night long.
& Now To Sleep Pillow Spray
The delicate infusion of frankincense, lavender and hops from Ren will help you slip into sleep. With a 100% natural fragrance from hard-working essentials oils, a few nightly spritzes will put those anxious thoughts to bed. It’s also cruelty free, vegan friendly and suitable for all skin types.
Deep Relax Sleep Mist
Made famous by its cult favourite Deep Relax Bath & Shower Oil, Aromatherapy Associates really knows its stuff when it comes to the art of winding down. Simply spritz the sandalwood mist over your body and sheets before getting into bed and the combination of vetiver, camomile and sandalwood will take care of the rest.
Sleepy Calming Pillow Mist
Another brand well known for its wonderful spas, Cowshed understands the ins and outs of relaxation. This light, citrus pillow mist is infused with melissa and lemon myrtle essential oils to elevate your night time routine. Buy alone or invest in your sleep with the Cowshed Essential Sleep Set, featuring its other bedtime essentials, which includes bath salts and a sleep candle.
All Night Long Calming Sleep Spray
With a good night’s sleep at the forefront of every formula, this beauty brand is calm to the core. Its divine, 99% naturally derived mist fuses frankincense, rose flower water and linden blossom – it’s a heavenly blend that will speed you straight to the land of nod.
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