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Sweet Dreams: How Pleasant Aromas Can Enhance Your Sleep Quality

The Science Behind Sleep-Enhancing Scents

Kristie Leong M.D.
7 min readJan 16, 2025
Image made with Canva.com

Ah, our beautiful sense of smell! Without it we couldn’t appreciate the scent of a rose or delicious batch of brownies baking in the oven.

But did you know that certain aromas could even help you get a better night’s sleep and wake up more rested?

I didn’t really explore this issue until a patient with chronic insomnia came in to see me. She had always struggled with pre-sleep anxiety.

Night after night, she feared that she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. And those persistent thoughts and fears further kept her from drifting off into a blissful state of sleep.

So, imagine my surprise when, during a routine visit, she told me she had solved her problem. I could feel my eyebrows rise as she announced this. Then I was all ears.

She told me she had purchased a diffuser, a small device that releases essential oils into the air. They also help humidify your bedroom, so you’re less likely to wake up with a dry mouth.

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Kristie Leong M.D.
Kristie Leong M.D.

Written by Kristie Leong M.D.

Ready to change your health trajectory? As a family physician, I'll help you build a path to lasting health—one meal at a time." https://www.histaminedoctor.com

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