The 6 best scents for falling asleep

Fragrance and aroma therapies are becoming increasingly popular as a natural way to combat problems falling asleep and sleep disorders. Here you can find out which scents are particularly effective against stress, nervousness and a lack of relaxation before sleep and help you fall asleep better and stay asleep.

 Table of contents

  1. Scents, relaxation & sleep
  2. The best scents & aromas for falling asleep
    1. Lavender
    2. Eucalyptus
    3. Vetiver
    4. Cedar
    5. Ylang Ylang
    6. Bergamot
  3. Conclusion

1. Fragrances, relaxation & sleep

Sufficient and good sleep is one of the most important foundations for a healthy life and we know that persistent stress and insufficient relaxation get in the way of a restful night. In order to get a really restful sleep without any problems, we should ensure that we have enough relaxation in the evening and get to rest early. Relaxation-promoting scent and aroma therapies contribute to a pleasant, comfortable sleeping atmosphere and have proven to be an effective support against stress-related sleep disorders, but especially against problems falling asleep.

Certain essential scents that are associated with calm, relaxation and a positive mood can have a positive effect on the physical and mental state and help to alleviate stress, tension and anxiety. Since these factors are directly related to the quality of our sleep and are often responsible for difficulty falling asleep or sleep disorders, we can support healthy sleep with the natural effects of certain fragrances.

We explain in our article Scent & Sleep how exactly our sense of smell works while we sleep and why certain scents are able to appeal to us positively both physically and emotionally and thus make a crucial contribution to a good night's sleep.

2. The 6 best scents & aromas for falling asleep

Classic: Lavender

Schlafmagazin: Düfte zum Einschlafen. Lavendel, Lavendelöl und Lavendelaroma

Lavender is a popular classic in aromatherapy and has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for problems falling asleep, inner restlessness, tension and anxiety due to its calming effect. The aroma of the plant has been proven to help relieve anxiety, drive away nervousness and promote inner peace.

Lavender contains more than 200 plant substances that reduce the release of stress hormones in our body, protect the nervous system from an overload of negative stimuli and have a calming effect on the heart rate and blood pressure. At the same time, the popular plant also has an influence on the production of the happiness hormone serotonin and in this way has a positive effect on mood and melatonin synthesis in the evening, which can support a healthy sleep-wake rhythm. Lavender is one of the most effective and widely used natural aromas when it comes to calming the soul and helping you fall asleep and sleep peacefully.

Liberating: Eucalyptus

smartsleep Schlafmagazin: Düfte zum Einschlafen Eukalyptus Zweig

The intense and fresh scent of eucalyptus has a calming, refreshing and liberating effect on the mind and is known for its positive effect on the respiratory tract. Blocked breathing makes it difficult to fall asleep and quickly leads to nocturnal breathing disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea. Eucalyptus contains numerous effective compounds that have a cooling, pain-relieving and decongestant effect on the mucous membranes and respiratory tract and stimulate blood flow to the brain. Eucalyptus scents can help you breathe freely at night and promote healthy, restful sleep.

Grounding: Vetiver

smartsleep Schlafmagazin: Düfte zum Einschlafen, Schale mit Vetiver

Vetiver is a tropical sweet grass plant. The strongly scented vetiver oil is obtained from the dried roots of the grass and is particularly popular in scent and aromatherapy because of its intense woody-earthy scent. The aroma of the plant is said to have a calming and grounding effect and to help alleviate nervousness, fears and other stress symptoms on the one hand, but also to counteract sleep disorders and depression on the other. Vetiver can help calm the soul in the evening and enable you to fall asleep peacefully.

Balance: Cedar

smartsleep Schlafmagazin: Düfte zum Einschlafen, Zedernholz und Zedernöl

Cedarwood oil is characterized by a deep, slightly spicy, woody scent that calms the senses and has a particularly balancing and stabilizing effect. The aroma of the conifer can strengthen the nerves and is used in aromatherapy not only to combat nervous tension and anxiety, but is also said to have a sleep-promoting effect. In some studies, the warming scent of cedar helped people fall asleep more quickly and, thanks to its additional antiseptic, expectorant effect, helped to prepare for a peaceful sleep, not only mentally but also physically.

Stimulating: Ylang-Ylang

smartsleep Schlafmagazin: Düfte zum Einschlafen, Ylang-Ylang Blüte

The Asian flower ylang-ylang is considered a true miracle cure for aromatherapy. The characteristically soft, floral scent has a positive influence on the body's production of the "happiness hormone" Serotonin and therefore not only has a direct effect on depression or anxiety, but also on our natural sleep-wake behavior. Accordingly, the smell of ylang-ylang oil promotes the feeling of joy and inner peace during the day and helps to support natural tiredness and falling asleep in the evening. Ylang-Ylang is also said to have an aphrodisiac effect and stimulate the senses.

Soothing: Bergamot

smartsleep Schlafmagazin: Düfte zum Einschlafen, Früchte der BergamotteThe oil of the citrus fruit bergamot smells fresh and fruity and can help to promote inner calm and confidence as well as reduce negative emotions, irritability and stress. Some studies also show that the calming aroma of bergamot can also have a direct positive effect on the body's sleep hormone melatonin. The scents of bergamot are very suitable for reducing the feeling of stress and worries, especially in the evening, and for naturally promoting the process of falling asleep.

3. Conclusion

  • Certain scents and essential aromas help relax before sleep and can promote falling asleep and a peaceful sleep.
  • Lavender has a calming effect, reduces stress, nervousness and anxiety and promotes falling asleep and staying asleep relaxed.
  • Eucalyptus clears the mind and the respiratory tract and counteracts sleep disorders caused by nighttime breathing problems.
  • Vetiver grounds and calms the soul, making it easier to fall asleep.
  • Cedar wood creates stability and balance for body and soul and promotes deep relaxation before going to bed.
  • Ylang-Ylang stimulates the senses and counteracts negative feelings, anxiety and stress to enable you to fall asleep without worries.
  • Bergamot refreshes, provides positive energy and contributes to a healthy sleep by promoting natural tiredness in the evening.

Greetings and see you soon!

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