Sleep
A good night starts before your head hits the pillow. Burning incense as part of a wind-down routine gives your body a reliable cue that the day is over — the striking of a match, the slow curl of smoke, a familiar scent in the air. Because smell bypasses conscious thought and goes straight to the brain's emotional centre, the right fragrance can ease a racing mind and settle the body into rest faster than almost anything else in a bedtime routine.
Scents that support sleep, and why:
Lavender — the most studied scent for sleep; its floral-herbaceous aroma has long been shown to slow the heart rate and quiet a busy mind before bed.
Chamomile — soft, sweet and apple-like, it's one of the gentlest bedtime scents, easing tension without being overpowering.
Cedarwood — a deep, dry woodiness long associated with settling the nervous system and easing the body into deeper, more restful sleep.
Vetiver — earthy and cooling, traditionally burned to still an overactive mind at the end of the day.
