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Roughly one in three experience sleep problems at least once a week, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Many of these people may resort to sleeping supplements, such as melatonin. But research suggests you could just smell your partner’s clothes instead, which was found to have similar benefits as taking melatonin.
One major sleep problem is poor sleep efficiency. This is a measure of how much time people spend asleep versus being awake but dedicated to sleep. When you spend hours thinking about sleeping, but not doing it – that’s poor sleep efficiency.
Stress, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders can all ruin your sleep efficiency.
A study, conducted by the University of British Columbia in Canada, found that people who slept in the presence of clothes exposed to their partner’s scent had a higher sleep efficiency.
The authors of the study explained that having a long-term partner around can improve your sense of safety, calm, and relaxation – which helps you sleep better.
The scent of your partner may have similar benefits by signaling to your brain that they were recently nearby.
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One major sleep problem is poor sleep efficiency. This is a measure of how much time people spend asleep versus being awake but dedicated to sleep. When you spend hours thinking about sleeping, but not doing it – that’s poor sleep efficiency.
Stress, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders can all ruin your sleep efficiency.
A recent study, conducted by the University of British Columbia in Canada, found that people who slept in the presence of clothes exposed to their partner’s scent had a higher sleep efficiency.
The authors of the study explained that having a long-term partner around can improve your sense of safety, calm, and relaxation – which helps you sleep better.
The scent of your partner may have similar benefits by signaling to your brain that they were recently nearby.
During the 2020 study, participants were given sleep watches to measure improvements in sleep when they were exposed to their partner’s scent.
A sleep watch works by measuring your body movements during sleep to determine how much time you probably spent awake versus asleep.
They were also asked if they believed they were exposed to the scent. Even if the participants falsely believed that they weren’t exposed, the effects remained – indicating that it isn’t a placebo effect.
Marlise Hofer, the lead author of the study at the UBC department of psychology said: “Our participants had an average sleep efficiency improvement of more than two percent.
“We saw an effect similar in size to what has been reported from taking oral melatonin supplements — often used as a sleep aid.”
DON’T MISS
The researchers looked at the data of 155 participants who were given two t-shirts as pillowcases. One had been worn by their partner while the other hadn’t.
Before the t-shirts were used in the experiment, the participants’ partners wore fresh t-shirts for 24 hours and refrained from using deodorant or other smelling body products – such as smoking, or eating foods that could affect their smell. The t-shirts were then frozen to preserve the scent.
Frances Chen, the study’s senior author and associate professor in the UBC department of psychology, said: “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.”
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Roses
Depressed people who inhaled rose scent in the air during sleep showed indicators of better mood and sleep in one study.
The Sleep Foundation suggests that the scent has “shown potential” although the study was “not conclusive”.
Frankincense, chamomile, and clary sage have also been found to help improve sleep.
There are also foods that you can consume to help you sleep. The NHS explained that “warm milk and foods high in the amino acid tryptophan, such as bananas, may help you to sleep”.
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