Study finds one scent as effective as taking a pill for better sleep
Recent research has found that the scent of your partner can enhance your sleep, even in their absence, producing effects similar to taking a sleep aid like melatonin, according to researchers.
Scientists conducted experiments where participants slept with two different t-shirts as pillowcases - one infused with their partner's scent and the other completely scent-free.
The research team discovered that participants' sleep significantly improved when exposed to their partner's scent, which they believe may serve as a signal of proximity.
READ MORE: Gardeners given urgent warning if robins enter their gardens
READ MORE: WASPI women could hear State Pension age change compensation update from DWP next week
They suggest that being near a partner creates a sense of safety, calm, and relaxation, contributing to a better night's sleep, reports the Surrey Live.
Marlise Hofer the study author from the University of British Columbia, in Canada, said: “Our findings provide new evidence that merely sleeping with a partner's scent improves sleep efficiency. Our participants had an average sleep efficiency improvement of more than two per cent."
She continued: “We saw an effect similar in size to what has been reported from taking oral melatonin supplements - often used as a sleep aid."
Researchers analysed sleep data from 155 participants who were given two identical looking t-shirts to use as a pillowcase. One had been worn by their romantic partner, while the other had either been worn by a stranger or was clean.
To collect smells on the t-shirts, participants' partners wore a clean t-shirt for 24 hours.
They were instructed to avoid activities that could affect their scent, such as using deodorant, smoking, or eating foods that could cause strong odours. After the 24-hour period, the t-shirts were frozen to preserve the scent.
Each participant was given two shirts to place on their pillows without knowing which was which. They slept with each t-shirt for two consecutive nights and completed a survey each morning about how well-rested they felt.
Additionally, their sleep quality was objectively measured using a sleep monitor that recorded their movements throughout the night. At the end of the study, the participants guessed if their partners had previously worn the t-shirt they were sleeping with.
Participants reported that they were more-well rested on the nights they believed they were sleeping with their partners scent. Regardless of the accuracy of their beliefs, objective data from the sleep monitors showed that participants sleep improved when they were exposed to their partner's scent.
Study author Doctor Frances Chen, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia, stated: “One of the most surprising findings is how a romantic partner's scent can improve sleep quality even outside of our conscious awareness."
She added: “The sleep watch data showed that participants experienced less tossing and turning when exposed to their partners' scent, even if they weren't aware of whose scent they were smelling.”
The researchers state that the physical presence of a long-term partner is linked to positive health outcomes, such as sense of safety, calm and relaxation, which result in better sleep. The researchers suggest that just the scent of a partner may offer similar benefits.
The team state that their study, published in Psychological Science, could open the door for future research exploring alternative sleep improvement methods, such as bringing a partner's shirt when traveling alone.
Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
The researchers are now recruiting participants for a pilot study to explore whether the scent of parents can enhance the sleep quality of their children.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
