That’s not to say I was always this way. My mom, being the intelligent but frugal woman she is, taught me that perfume was something to be reserved for special occasions. And I still think she has a point—we should all have that one particular fragrance we keep tucked away for certain moments.
Unintentional Aromatherapy
However, my fragrance philosophy has changed over the years. When I was gifted a bottle of Dior Miss Dior in college, the sweet floral notes immediately became my signature scent. It smelled so wonderful that I wanted to smell like it all of the time—so that night, after my shower, I spritzed on a dose and went to bed. What started as an extra time spent with my favorite fragrance turned into unintentional aromatherapy. I could feel stressful thoughts melting away—notes of bergamot and rosewood soothed and codded me into the deepest sleep I’d had in weeks. When I woke up, it was the first thing I smelled. The scent had faded from my skin, but it lingered on my sheets in the most pleasant, subtle way. Waking up like that made me feel elegant and glamorous like Old-Hollywood, or like Marilyn Monroe slinking out of bed in a silk nightgown and perfect hair—Monroe famously declared that she wore nothing to bed except for a few drops of Chanel no. 5. Since then, I’ve made it a point to bring a favorite scent to bed with me.
Benefits of Wearing Perfume
And it’s not just me. Studies show that fragrance has the power to significantly affect your mood, reduce stress, and relax your muscles—all things that you want before hitting the sheets. It’s the same reason why hotels and Airbnb hosts use bedroom-specific scents to help guests achieve a better night of sleep. So what kind of fragrances should you wear to bed? I largely depend on sweet gourmands and warm ambers for my beauty sleep, but it really depends on your bedtime needs. Some people switch to a sexy perfume that their partner also loves while others spritz on coconut scents that call to mind a tropical vacation. “In order to sleep peacefully and wake completely rested, my advice is to wrap yourself with vanilla-based scents,” says Paolo Terenzi, perfumer and president of Tiziana Terenzi. “Different notes can be more appealing at night, especially white flowers, such as magnolia, jasmine, and ylang ylang.” If you have trouble falling asleep, Rachel Beider, certified aromatherapist from Cinquieme Sens via Pratt in New York City, recommends a combination of clary sage, roman chamomile, and bergamot. “Roman chamomile is deeply soothing and calming when applied at bedtime. Clary sage is actually an anti-spasmodic, so it’s helpful for reducing restlessness, and bergamot is known to lower blood pressure and slow down the heart rate, which can calm feelings of anxiety.”
Essential Oils
Essential oils are another viable option. “If your perfume contains essential oils, you may experience headache relief, which can contribute greatly to your sleep quality,” adds Laura Bates, a certified sleep science coach and co-founder of Comfybeddy.com.au. “In this case, your perfume can work as an aromatherapy tool. The essential oils will send signals to the brain, creating a sense of relaxation that is needed for improved sleep quality.” If you do opt for essential oils, aromatherapists highly recommend lavender, which when worn as a perfume has been shown to improve insomnia symptoms. “It does this by altering the electrical waves in the brain during key phases of the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep cycle, the cycle considered responsible for renewing the mind-body connection, consolidating memory, and repairing damaged tissue,” says Brittany Hogan, aromatherapist and founder of Nefertem Holistic Skincare. “Studies have shown that inhalation of lavender before and during sleep can decrease the time it takes to fall asleep, reduce wake-up times during the night, and improve a sense of vitality the following day.”
Keep It Natural
Another tip? “Use essences that are created with natural molecules because they are able to develop aromatherapy effects that will reconcile your sleep; synthetic notes, unfortunately, do not have these beneficial properties,” says Terenzi. And whatever you choose, keep it reserved for bedtime. While the powers of scent association can help you fall asleep faster, they can also have the same effect if worn in the middle of the day. Looking to upgrade your beauty sleep? Below are some of our favorite fragrances that also double as olfactory nightcaps. The highly inviting jasmine and ylang-ylang steal the scent show here, but you can also gather notes of amber and vanilla, among others. The primary note comes from the nocturnal tuberose flower, which is best described as narcotically sweet and intoxicating. To the Victorians, the plant was so distressingly seductive that young women were warned not to get too close to the night-blooming blossoms lest an accidental whiff awaken dangerously illicit desire.
