Can't sleep? You're not alone. According to the CDC, one in three adults doesn't get the recommended seven hours of sleep on a regular basis. Whether you're stressed, anxious, or otherwise preoccupied, it can be hard to turn your brain off at the end of the day. Having a regular bedtime routine can help. Add a relaxing pillow spray to that bedtime routine, and you'll be on your way to dreamland in no time!
We researched the best pillow sprays out there and compiled a list of our top 10 as well as a buying guide to help you decide. Coming in at number one is the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray from This Works. Formulated with lavender, chamomile, and vetivert, it surrounds you with a calming scent to help promote faster and better sleep. Keep reading to see the rest of our picks!
Quick List - Top Pillow Sprays
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Choosing a pillow spray can be daunting. Aromatherapy is a lesser-researched treatment and can be rife with buzzwords and false claims. Here, we'll break down some of the things to pay attention to when evaluating pillow sprays.
Different scents can have different effects on your mood. Here, we’ll delve deeper into the most commonly used scents in sleep sprays.
Some studies have shown lavender essential oil to be effective at fighting insomnia. It can help improve your quality of sleep and help you fall asleep faster.
Lavender may also help reduce anxiety and improve your mood, although fewer studies have been done in this area. One study from 2015 found that students who inhaled lavender at bedtime felt more vibrant and energetic during the day.
Chamomile has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. Modern science has studied chamomile’s effects and found it to be helpful in treating generalized anxiety disorder and depression.
It’s also widely used as a sleep aid and has been shown to promote a higher quality of sleep. You may be familiar with chamomile tea, but you can also get chamomile’s calming benefits by inhaling its scent.
Eucalyptus essential oil has a sharp, almost medicinal scent that many people find refreshing. It has an airway-clearing effect and is primarily used to treat coughs, colds, and congestion.
When added to a pillow spray, it can be a great way to freshen up your linens. It can also be helpful for sleep if you feel a cold coming on or suffer from congestion related to seasonal or dust allergies.
There are a couple of floral scents you can find in pillow sprays. The most common are ylang-ylang, geranium, and rose. A couple of small studies of ylang-ylang have found that it can reduce anxiety and boost mood and self-esteem. It has also been shown to have a sedative effect.
A combination of studies and anecdotal evidence suggests that geranium may have a calming effect and help alleviate depressive moods. And studies of rose oil have found that it releases dopamine, which can help with depression, stress, and anxiety.
Since pillow sprays are used on your pillow, they’ll have direct contact with your skin. Therefore, it’s important to know what’s in your spray, especially if you have sensitive skin. Pillow sprays generally include water, fragrance, and some kind of emulsifier (since water and oil don’t naturally mix).
Essential oils are often used for the fragrance and can be irritating for some people. Some sprays also contain alcohol, which can be drying.
The ingredients for pillow sprays aren’t always listed in the product description, so it can be helpful to check the manufacturer’s website and customer reviews if you don’t see this information upfront. When in doubt, do a test before using it to make sure you don’t have a negative reaction.
While some studies show certain fragrances promote sleep and relaxation, keep in mind that the studies are small and much evidence is anecdotal. Products that claim to cure insomnia, depression, and anxiety should be taken with a grain of salt. That doesn’t mean they won’t have a positive effect, but don’t expect them to work magic.
Essential oils are not regulated by the FDA, which means that manufacturers don’t need to meet specific standards for quality. For example, some oils are marketed as “therapeutic grade.” However, this is essentially meaningless since there’s no universal standard that dictates what “therapeutic grade” means.
Instead of focusing on the manufacturer’s claims, take a look at how much information they provide about the spray. Usually, the more transparent they are about the product’s ingredients and manufacturing process, the more reliable it will be.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray | ![]() | A Natural Spray Keeps Insomnia at Bay | |
2 | Positive Essence Rose Linen and Room Spray | ![]() | Sleep in a Bed of Roses | |
3 | Asutra Aromatherapy Spray | ![]() | A Refreshing Blend of Lemongrass and Jasmine | |
4 | Victoria's Lavender Pillow and Linen Spray | ![]() | A Pure Lavender Scent for Sleep | |
5 | TreeActiv Anti-Acne Pillow Spray | ![]() | A Spray That Soothes and Fights Acne | |
6 | DRMTLGY Natural Lavender Linen and Room Spray | ![]() | Refresh Your Linens With Lavender and Chamomile | |
7 | The Natural and Organic Family Happy Thoughts Pillow & Sleep Spray | ![]() | Relaxing Florals for Deep Sleep | |
8 | Muse Apothecary Pillow Ritual | ![]() | A Bedtime Bouquet of Lavender | |
9 | Calm Sleep Mist | ![]() | A Mist for Meditation and Sleep | |
10 | JUNIPERMIST Sleep Spray Pillow Mist | ![]() | A Blend of Soothing Herbs |
With over 9,000 reviews, the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray from This Works could be considered a cult favorite. It contains lavender, chamomile, and vetivert to calm your body, settle your nerves, and promote restful sleep. Its formula is 99 percent natural, cruelty-free, and contains no GMOs.
In an independent study of 200 subjects using this pillow spray, 89 percent reported that it helped them fall asleep faster, and 97 percent said they slept better than normal.
Some reviewers warned that this spray has a patchouli scent, which may not be for everyone. However, the majority of reviewers loved adding this spray to their bedtime routine and said the scent is soothing and relaxing.
If you're a fan of florals, try this natural Rose Linen and Room spray from Positive Essence. It contains rose oil from Turkey to help relieve stress and promote sleep, with notes of clove, green tea, honey, and musk. The formula is cruelty-free and can also be used as a room and body spray.
Some reviewers complained that the scent is too strong. On the other hand, many reviewers found the spray to be incredibly long-lasting, saying they could still smell it after 24 hours. They were pleased with the natural scent and said it makes their home smell like a rose garden.
This calming aromatherapy spray contains lemongrass and jasmine to promote positivity and help you feel calm, cool, and collected. The formula is vegan and even safe for pets. With no alcohol and the addition of aloe vera and jojoba oil, it helps leave skin moisturized.
In addition to pillows, this spray can also be used on your face and body. However, some reviewers complained that the scent was too light and didn't last for very long. Others said they could smell the lemongrass but not the jasmine.
Still, many reviewers found the scent to be pleasant, clean, and light. They said it made them feel uplifted and refreshed, and they like using it both in the daytime and in the evening.
This Pillow and Linen Spray from Victoria's Lavender is the perfect option if you want a spray that's just lavender and nothing else. It's made in Oregon and contains essential oil rather than floral water for a pure scent that can help calm and soothe you to sleep.
Some reviewers found the scent to be fairly weak, while others said it dissipates quickly. On the other hand, most reviewers said this spray has a lovely natural scent. Many loved using it on their pillows and sheets right before bedtime and said it helped them destress and relax.
This pillow spray is a little different from most. In addition to smelling nice, it also helps prevent acne. It contains lavender water, tea tree water, and aloe vera extract to cleanse and purify. Clary sage extract soothes and moisturizes your skin. It also leaves behind a fresh aroma.
Some reviewers said this pillow spray had an unexpected sweet scent. Still, many other reviewers found the smell to be soothing and helpful for sleep. And most of them said this spray really does work to help prevent acne.
Use this Natural Lavender Linen and Room Spray on everything from pillows to clothing to yoga mats for a fresh and pleasing scent. It contains lavender, chamomile, witch hazel, and jojoba oil to help create a relaxing environment. The formula cruelty-free and made without parabens, sulfates, and formaldehyde.
Some reviewers complained that the scent was weak, and they couldn't detect the lavender. On the other hand, many reviewers found the scent well-balanced and said it kept their furniture, linens, and home smelling lovely.
The Happy Thoughts Pillow & Sleep Spray contains lavender, may chang, and tangerine essential oils to create a floral scent that can help release tension and put your mind and body in a state of relaxation. The formula is vegan and made from 97 percent natural ingredients.
Reviewers said this spray has a lovely scent that lingers. They found it to be calming and relaxing, saying it helped them drift off into dreamland.
Make this pillow mist from Muse Apothecary part of your nighttime ritual. Spritz it onto your pillows, sheets, and comforter for a relaxing scent that comes from lavender essential oil. The formula is plant-based, organic, and vegan, so it doesn't contain harsh chemicals.
Some reviewers said the scent didn't last very long after spraying. However, many reviewers loved the smell of this pillow spray and said it helped soothe them to sleep. And they said the cute packaging was an added bonus.
Brought to you by the folks at Calm (the meditation and sleep app), this sleep mist is designed to help you fall asleep quickly. It contains lavender, frankincense, chamomile, and clary sage essential oils to clear your mind. The formula contains no synthetic fragrances or colors.
It's also been evaluated by an independent safety assessor to be safe for children over one year. However, reviewers didn't like the packaging; they said the cap doesn't seem to stay on tightly, so there's a risk of leakage or spillage.
Still, most reviewers praised this pillow spray for being effective in helping them sleep. They said the scent is soft and soothing. Many said it works well for their children, too.
This pillow spray contains a blend of sleep-inducing herbs. There's lavender for relaxation, bergamot to lift your mood, clary sage to alleviate pain, and frankincense to open breathing passages. The formula contains no preservatives or artificial fragrances; it's plant-based and 100 percent natural.
Some reviewers complained that the scent dissipated too quickly. However, most reviewers said this spray is a lovely blend of herbal scents that aren't too overpowering. They found that this spray helped them relax and lulled them to sleep.
With so much going on in our lives, it can be hard to switch off at the end of the day. Here are some of our other favorite products to help relax and soothe busy minds and bodies.
No. 1: This Works|Deep Sleep Pillow Spray
No. 2: Positive Essence|Rose Linen and Room Spray
No. 3: Asutra|Aromatherapy Spray
No. 4: Victoria's Lavender|Pillow and Linen Spray
No. 5: TreeActiv|Anti-Acne Pillow Spray
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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