PILLOW MIST

To quote Shakespeare (and hey, why not?), ‘Sleep that soothes away all our worries. Sleep that puts each day to rest. Sleep that relieves the weary laborer and heals hurt minds.’ Shakespeare, however, didn’t have to deal with a 24/7 always-on world, blue light hitting his pineal gland and all sort of other challenges of modern life which can make sleep elusive. 

Which is where pillow mists – of which we’re huge fans – come in. We’re delighted to say that we have a great line-up of winners, this year, many of them previous Award-winners (and several of them featuring in our own bedside sleep arsenals). 

For other types of sleep aid – accessories and bath/bodycare – which also scored well, click here.

GOLD AWARD and BEST NATURAL Wildsmith Skin Stillness Pillow Mist

Late in 2022 we produced one of Beauty Bible’s ‘Special Reports’ for Wildsmith in the run-up to the launch of their pillow mist. (Those trials are more in-depth and involve 30+ testers.). We were completely blown away by the rave reviews for the mist, which blends rose geranium, Roman chamomile and lavender with frankincense, ylang ylang, cedarwood and patchouli. Benefits were experienced within seven days – and often, as soon as the very first night’s spritz from the green glass mister bottle.

£30 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Works amazingly, for me. When you are sleep deprived, if you stumble on something  that works or really helps, it’s like finding the Holy Grail – the difference between struggling  during the day to cope with work or children, or just life in general. That may sound slightly dramatic – but it's true’ • ‘I consider myself something of an expert in sleep sprays having pretty much tried them all over the last couple of years! I will most definitely recommend this and will probably also buy it as a gift for close family’ • ‘The best bedtime scent I’ve ever had. It’s not just your usual lavender. The freshness and herbal notes of this fragrance take my bedroom to another level’ • ‘The quality of my sleep has improved as I spend less time getting to sleep initially and less time getting to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night. I have noticed I have a few more nights than usual where I do not wake up at all and manage to sleep the whole night through’ • ‘It feels like some sort of magic spell: when you spray it, you start to get sleepy’’ • ‘It is really quite remarkable how much good sleep improves the quality of the next day and lessens the difficult of getting back to sleep. Using this spray is like starting a very good habit that builds up benefits with continued use’ • ‘I would buy and recommend. As this is more subtle than most sleep mists, I think anyone with poor quality of sleep would benefit from this as the fragrance is extremely relaxing’ • ‘My bedroom and linen smell wonderful from using this; for me, personally, it’s the first step in settling down for the night’ • ‘Grouchy mornings are fewer now!’

£30 for 100ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD  Tropic So Sleepy Pillow Mist

This was previously a winner (Bronze in 2021), and the aromatherapeutic blend is clearly highly effective, because Tropic have also scooped a Bronze Award in this year’s relaxing bath treats category with their So Sleepy Bath Foam. Seven essential oils work their magic in this spritz, including lavender, chamomile, rosewood, rosemary, frankincense and aromatic eucalyptus, which they maintain is ‘excellent for getting rid of the horrible head fog that can stop you switching off’. 

£20 for 75ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘A good night's sleep in  a spray!! I usually wake up at 3 a.m. and take ages to get back to sleep; I have started spraying my pillow again with this and I do think it helps me get back to sleep again quicker than before’ • ‘Love this product; the scent is amazing, and I love having it on my pillow. I really think it's helping me sleep better so I am very happy!!!’ • ‘A little touch of magic; I have used lavender for a long time, but the combination of wonderful oils will leave you dreaming in no time – a good sleep is the ultimate luxury’ • ‘My husband is a convert, too – like me, he is not a great sleeper and trialled it on a couple of occasions; it worked equally well for him. He was delighted that I was able to have a quality sleep, leaving me feeling enthusiastic about life’ • ‘This has given me the golden key; I spray before sleep and in the middle of the night, if needed, to get a fabulous sleep, feeling ready and energised the next day to get on with life’ • ‘A relaxing comforting spray, which definitely calms you, smells like expensive spa and helps induce sleep; it has a very nice fine mist too so will not soak the pillow or sheets completely’ • ‘Definitely kept me asleep for longer left more relaxed and ready to face the day! I felt it helped to relax me and encouraged me to sleep for longer during the night. I was very dubious about its impact before I started to but it makes me feel calmer straight away. I can't describe it properly, but it feels almost as if I'm sinking into the pillow once I've sprayed it.’

£20 for 75ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

A previous winner more times than we can count (without going through every edition of our books and previous spreadsheets, it’s a LOT), this is a pillow mist legend and a This Works bestseller. The aromatherapy brand originally founded by our friend and Vogue Beauty Director Kathy Phillips has done an impressive amount of clinical research into the effects of their sleep ‘Superblend’ of vetiver, chamomile and lavender, reporting that 97% of their panel slept better. Here’s what our own testers thought…

£24 for 75ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘I am peri-menopausal and have really been struggling, so the timing of getting this product was amazing. I’m finding it so much easier getting off to sleep and staying asleep. It has also really helped my husband; I feel completely rested and find it easier to get up in the morning and my husband has noticed my brighter moods’ • ‘I do occasionally wake in the nigh, but. when I used this, I did not’ • ‘When I need to destress, I now reach for this product as it totally relaxes me. I have used this product every night since it arrived in my Beauty Bible parcel, and it really does help. I fall asleep more quickly, and if I do wake in the night, it helps to get me back off to sleep. I will not be without it, moving forward, and have given some to my mother-in-law who also loves it’ • ‘A game-changer. I have actually used this spray on and off for years before Beauty Bible sent it to me and I am convinced that this product helps me to sleep. I am a big fan! My husband has also used this product and he is convinced that it works, too; I hope this win helps raise the profile of This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, because it really works’ • ‘An aroma that makes you feel happy about going to bed, which isn't always fun when you’re in your 50s! I loved the fragrance , very soft and calming lavender, and people around me have commented on my mood positively’ • ‘Loved this; the spray bottle dispensed the right amount, and the scent is gorgeous – not overpowering. Really relaxing and great to end a hectic day with ready for the next!’

£24 for 75ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Olverum Restful Sleep Pillow Mist

For a long time, Olverum was known and loved as a ‘heritage’ bath oil, but in the past few years they’ve extended their range with many innovations that cleverly rebalance and rework the original potent blend, so you don’t smell quite so much like a walk in a pine forest. Lavender, geranium, amyris and Roman chamomile make for a fresh, clean-scented pillow spritz here, offered in a tall glass flacon.

£27.50 for 50ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘I love it. Had never considered a pillow spray but this is wonderful – a miracle-worker; calms and relaxes instantly for better sleep if stressed and anxious’ • ‘I really became calm using this product; it smells expensive and lavender-y and worked well 10/10’ • ‘I wake up in the night but when I used this product, I felt like I had a much deeper sleep and if I woke up, I was able to get to sleep much quicker than normal’ • ‘A magical shortcut to relaxation, and the best night's sleep ever! So deeply relaxing to use, and just creates a wonderfully calming atmosphere in the bedroom or any room where you are unwinding before going to sleep; I often spray it in the evenings, in order to promote a sense of calm and serenity before going to bed in the evening’ • ‘Really scents bedlinen wonderfully. I love giving my pillow a good spritz so that when I get into bed the bed linen smells relaxing and just so fresh. The essential oils that are used in this are an absolutely perfect blend’ • ‘Just so good!!!! I never want to go to sleep without it! Makes a perfect bedfellow!  One thing I also suffer with is I seem to clench my jaw when stressed and I can sometimes do this in my sleep. I have found that since using this spray I haven't had any issues with clenching my jaw and I am feeling like I sleep better’ • ‘As well as using this on my pillows I have also sprayed it on my sofa in the evening as the fragrance helps me wind down’ • ‘Doesn't soak your pillow like some similar products and has a blissful fragrance. I can't wait to get into bed once I've spritzed.  I drop off to sleep almost immediately and wake up refreshed.’

£27.50 for 50ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD  L’OCCITANE Relaxing Pillow Mist

In the case of L’Occitane’s winning pillow mist, the essential oils deployed to promote relaxation and wellbeing include lavender, bergamot, mandarin, sweet orange and geranium, packaged in apothecary-style brown glass, to protect the contents, topped by a spray dispenser. They also remind us that it can be helpful not only to spray bedlinen (and nightwear, as we suggest above), but also to mist the room before bedtime. Can you hear us snoring, from there…?

£22.50 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘I have tried several pillow mists before but not noticed any particular benefit, but I am now a HUGE fan of this product. The impact was obvious after using it the very first time, and since then I use it every night. I have also used it in the afternoon if I am tired and feel like a quick nap’ • ‘I am such a fan that I started spritzing my husband's pillow in the spare bedroom where he sleeps when he is on call (he is a hospital doctor). He is usually massively sceptical but even he noticed the difference. We both find the scent very relaxing, even if we aren't intending to sleep straightaway; it is very, very calming’ • ‘I can't recommend it highly enough. If I could have scored it 11, I would have! I'm not particularly fond of the smell of lavender and have struggled with that when using previous pillow sprays that I've tried. When I saw that this was also lavender, I was dubious; this spray blends of bergamot, lavender, sweet orange, mandarin and geranium –  a lovely mixture, which I love’ • ‘I feel that my sleeping has improved while I've been using the mist. I feel more revitalised the next day after having a better night's sleep’ • ‘A few people have noticed that I have more energy and I am not too tired as I used to be. I sleep well during the night and wake up feeling well rested and ready to go! ’ • ‘I would describe this as the perfect natural sleep aid that smells nice and helps you fall into a natural sleep; I’d recommend and share this with any friend suffering sleep issues, as I feel it helps embed a healthy sleep hygiene pattern.’

£22.50 for 100ml - click to buy