The Surprising $18 Find That Actually Helps Me Sleep Better

There was a time when I rejected the idea of needing anything but willpower to fall asleep at a decent hour. Well, willpower and time for a proper evening wind-down in the form of a refreshing shower, therapeutic skincare routine, and a warm mug of Sleepytime tea to put me in a bedtime mood. It worked for a little while (when I’d actually do it… ), but for the most part, I’d stay up late watching TV, texting, and doomscrolling. Then I came across Quiet Night Pillow Mist from wellness brand LATHER, and I was immediately intrigued.

I actually stumbled across this product just by chance while looking for a new soap. At first, the Quiet Night Pillow Mist sounded too good to be true, which meant I absolutely needed to try it out (what can I say, I’m an impulse shopper!). It’s sold in a two-ounce spray bottle that fits in my hand, so it’s compact enough to place on my nightstand or even in a carry-on bag while traveling. The scent is a calming blend of organic lavender and ylang-ylang essential oils, plus lemon, ho wood, and cedarwood, which all come together to create a fragrance that’s perfectly sweet without being overly flowery. I don’t have a lot of experience with sleep enhancements, but the pillow mist seemed right up my alley since I’m a huge fan of aromatherapy. I also love that it is free of parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, and synthetic colors. 

Trust me when I say that a little bit of Quiet Night Pillow Mist goes a long way. You simply spritz it on your pillow before bed — two pumps should do it — and give it a minute to dry. Confession: I usually use four of five pumps, but hear me out. I don’t just spray it on my pillow. As I’m wrapping up my bedtime routine, I peel back my comforter and spray it once on the underside, then follow it up with a spray on the sheets of my side of the bed, the pillow I sleep on, and occasionally I’ll spray the top of the comforter and the underside of my pillow. Then, when I pull the covers up, I am enveloped with the soothing fragrance that will soon lull me to sleep.

Honestly, I was skeptical about whether or not the Quiet Night Pillow Mist would work for me. I don’t take naps, I stay up late often, and when I do sleep, I’m usually interrupted. The first time I used the spray, I fell asleep so easily that I didn’t realize I’d done so until I woke up a few hours before my morning alarm went off. I thought it was a fluke at first, but when I tried it again the next night — with less skepticism and more mindful awareness — I noticed how much I relaxed and how much more peaceful my sleep was because of it. I still woke up in the middle of the night, but way less frequently than before, and I didn’t have to spritz my bedding again to resume my rest.

I’ve been using the pillow mist for nearly a month now, and I can confidently say that my quality of sleep is so much better. I’ve even skipped nights here and there to compare how I felt; on evenings I didn’t use it, I was prone to my usual overthinking and waking up every couple of hours. With the Quiet Night spray, I go to sleep in a calm, cozy mood and wake up feeling refreshed and rested. I had no idea that such a simple fix would make such a difference — and that’s my favorite kind of impulse buy.

Buy: Quiet Night Pillow Mist, $18.00