Whilst a bad smell won’t necessarily interfere with sleep, it may add to a level of discomfort a client is feeling consequently adding to the difficulty in getting to sleep.
However, pleasant smells have been associated with aiding sleep. In aromatherapy, lavender in particular has long been a favourite for promoting sleep as it helps to relax the central nervous system. Citrus aurantium has been shown to improve sleep quality in post-menopausal women (1). Whilst there is no absolute scientific evidence for what is the best scent for sleep, the following have been attributed as helpful in aiding sleep.
- Lavender
- Rose
- Geranium
- Clary Sage
- Jasmine
- Sweet Marjoram
- Ylang Ylang
These are all available as aromatherapy oils and can be used in a diffuser or a few drops on a piece of cloth near the pillow or mixed with water and sprayed onto the bedding or added to a bath before bedtime.
There are also lots of blended formulas marketing to help sleep and these may be helpful as the smell could promote relaxation or positive emotion towards going to sleep.
As always, ask your client what scent they would like to try as smell can be individualistic and what you may love someone else may dislike. A great exercise would be for your client to create their own signature sleep scent to which they have a strong positive emotional reaction and brings a sense of comfort and pleasure at the thought of bedtime.
Reference
- Abbaspoor, Z. et al. The effect of citrus aurantium aroma on the sleep quality in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial. IJCBNM. 10, 86–95 (2021).