Ever since I learned that French women spritz on a fragrance before going to sleep and to scent their sheets, I have started to do the same. It’s now part of my bedtime routine, it helps me to wind down and signals to my body that I’m readying myself for sleep mode. I started with baby cologne, but now I’ve switched to the classic and clean-smelling scent Aqua Universalis by Francis Kurkdjian.
The fragrance changed the game upon its release 15 years ago–up until that point, so-called “clean” scents tended to evoke soap. Kurkdijan set out to make something different. “I don’t think the feeling of cleanliness is smelling soapy, for me it’s feeling good, happy and clean in your mind,” he explains. “It’s the fact of feeling good in your body because you are also good in your mind, and vice versa… it’s more the wellbeing of freshness, not so much the smell of freshness.”
Now available in a formula specifically designed for household linen such as bedding (Aqua Universalis Linen Mist), I find that I instantly feel calmer after spritzing it after dark.
Of course, this little self-care hack is something French women have known about for a while. Mathilde Thomas, creator of Caudalie, says she always sprays a scent of chamomile, basil, lavender, and mint on her pillow to help her relax before bed. Using scent as a means of separating day from night can be an effective part of a pre-bed ritual.
It’s an extension of “scent-scaping”, or creating defined olfactory spaces within our homes to improve wellbeing. “Separating spaces by using a specific scent can also separate them in our brain, which always contributes to improving mental health–especially if you spend a lot of time at home, says Julien Pruvost, creative director of Trudon. “The idea is to take advantage of the positivity generated by fragrances to accompany different activities.” When it comes to scenting the bedroom: “I suggest avoiding citrus or energetic fragrances in this space because it is a place where the priority is to rest. Choose floral notes of jasmine or neroli, vanilla, amber, and incense.”
In the interests of making your bed as relaxing–and inviting–as possible, show your sheets some love, too. Linen specialists Dalfilo recommend using mild detergents and softeners to wash bedding at a maximum temperature of 40C, before (ideally) drying outside.