Subliminal scents can influence you even while you sleep.  A recent study shows that smelling rose (used as the pleasant odor sample) during sleep causes more positive dream emotions, and a standard unpleasant odor (rotten eggs) promotes negative dream emotions.

Also in this study, the pleasant smell was found to promote memorization. When the rose smell was presented in the slow wave of sleep (the sleep cycle that helps to consolidate memories), subjects could better remember a newly learned task upon waking if the same rose smell was present.

Try scenting your sheets or using a plug-in oil burner or candle melter.  Here are some good ones I’ve come across.

Sheets: 

Linen Spray: Spray this on your curtains or sheets to freshen between washing or to add fragrance if you don’t use scented laundry detergent, softener, or dryer sheets.

Scented Laundry Detergent: I once got a gift package of Tyler Candle Company’s Glamour collection laundry detergent. It featured “Diva,” “High Maintenance,” and “Kathina.” I tried them all, and each time I switched to a new scent I thought it was the best one.  It was a close call, but I think “High Maintenance” was my favorite.  Bottom line is, they smell good.  Tyler Candle Company has a wide assortment of scent themes, and they have candles scented to match. Caldrea offers laundry detergent, too.  They don’t have as many choices, but their linen spray scents match their laundry detergent scents.

Some new reports have come out with the danger of chemicals released in the air with some main brand scented laundry detergents when fabric is dried in the dryer.  The study is limited in that it didn’t test emissions from unscented laundry detergents and in that it didn’t identify which ingredients might lead to those emissions. However, to be on the safe side, don’t hang out near the dryer if your scented sheets are in there. The sheets themselves are not a danger.

Plug-In Oil Burners: 

These are my favorite! I use Bath and Body Works plug-in air fresheners called Wallflowers.   They have lots of choices and the wall plug-ins change with the season if you want to (which I don’t, but I think it’s a nice option).  They have lotions to match, so if you want to take advantage of those memory benefits you have a convenient way to recollect.

Glade also has quality PlugIns  that are adjustable.  They are nice because you can control how much of the scent is released at a time with its dial.
Candle Melters:  

These plug-in wax melters fill a room with a scent just as a candle would, however, you don’t have the danger of falling asleep with a flame burning.  Sold by individual consultants, Scentsy are the safest most convenient ways to melt wax, they work well, and they look attractive.  Recently they’ve added a plug-in warmer to their product list for those of us whose counter space is limited.

Whichever way you choose to scent while you sleep, sleep well and sweet dreams!