Hi there Posse! Bedtime. Who else spritzes themselves or their pillow before bedtime? Maybe you have an oil burner/vaporiser or light some incense, maybe you have a pre-bedtime routine that helps you drop off to the land of nod? Let’s find out what works for you today.
Bedtime Spritzing
What’s my routine?
Well, Jin goes to be quite early because he works as an electrician but I’m a night owl and my brain really doesn’t start functioning properly till around 1pm. Once it switches on though it’s good to go till around 4am on full burners. So if I need to get some sleep I find routine helps it happen. Yet, also very like me the routine can’t always be the same. Confused? Read on….
I have a cuppa while finish up my blogging. It may be tea, coffee or Milo depending on my mood. Once it’s warmed me through, even in summer, which takes about 20 minutes I go clean my teeth and my face. Then I choose a fragrance that I’ve not smelled in a while and give me chest and one arm a spritz. On the back on my left hand I’ll put a completely different fragrance, a completely different genre. So if I have an oriental on my body it could be a green, oud, aldehyde or rose fragrance for my hand back.
Once this is done I get a glass of water for beside the bed throughout the night and go off to the land of nod floating away on the fumes. It seems to block out my other senses and lets me fall happily, deeply and dreamlessly asleep.
What did I wear last night?
Shea Fabulous Oil by L’Occitane on my body and a spritz of Guerlain’s Ylang & Vanille. Admittedly they are quite close in the seaside floral spectrum but Ylang & Vanille is often my hand spritz because it’s so gooey and rich I feel like a decadent Egyptian Pharaoh when cuddled in its warm and welcoming embrace.
Shea Fabulous Oil is well named. The most death defyingly gorgeous body oil in the history of the universe. I wore it as my SOTD to work last night and garnered 5 compliments on how good I smelled. seriously it is absolutely gorgeous and leaves your skin feeling ultra smooth and soft. Heavenly.
So what’s your Bedtime routine? Is it fragrant or physical? How do you prepare for sleep?
Portia xx
I love reading everyone’s sleepy time thoughts here. Fragrance rituals are fascinating now just as they have been for thousands of years. For sleep I love lavender essential oil, traditional eaux de Cologne, comforting florals that fade away gently like Chanel Beige or Gardenia, or something slightly sweet like Vanille Galante. For me Parfums DelRae Amoureuse is an absolutely gorgeous and narcotic soporific scent. It is a knockout in more than one sense of the word.
Oh, how I miss Ylang & Vanille. It is perfect for bedtime. I’m going to try Shea Fabulous to see if it fills that void in my heart and nose.
One funny thing I do at bedtime is to strategically spritz fragrance on myself so that any overspray will land on the bed pillows and sheets. Why let fragrance waft to the floor?
I often wear perfume to bed, but it has to be either (1) something that help make me drowsy, or (2) something uncomplicated and not too heavy. Heavy, rich scents or anything complex just keep me awake.
Examples of (1) above include just about anything with a prominent orange blossom or linden note. Joya Ames Soeurs and Tauer Zeta work well–so well, in fact, that I never can wear them in the daytime, as I am likely to nod off.
I give myself a spritz before bed most every night, it’s become my ritual over the past couple of years as more and more “fragrance free zone”signs show up at work. *sigh*. My usuals are Olympic Orchids’ Dev 2 or Dev 4, Kenzo Ca Sent Beau, Sonoma Scent Studios’ Wood Violet, or if I had a really tough day, some Delices de Cartier parfum. As the weather gets warmer, I usually switch to Lacoste Pour Femme or Prada Bois d’Iris.
I love getting a sniff of my SOTN wafting up to me, and frequently it still lingers in the morning. Yummy. 🙂
Hi there Rose,
What a diverse and interesting line up. Cool kid frags. Thos DEVs are freaky and I love them too.
What is Lacoste pour Femme like? I would never have thought to even try it.
Portia xx
Oh! Oh! These are so fun to read! And it makes me feel like not so much of a freak for having nighttime dabbing rituals! I often like to try samples right before bed, though sometimes that backfires on me HORRIBLY, either because the scent is so awful, or because it’s so interesting that I can’t sleep! But if I’m actually trying to sleep, I love spritzing myself with SL’s A La Nuit.
Hey Hey HeidiC,
Ha! Having any rituals is good. I like the ebb & flow of my days with structure. I get VERY crabby when I can’t move to my own totally ludicrous time schedule. Probably should have been a priest for a long gone deity.
A La Nuit is one of the Serge Lutens that I’ve never spritzed. You make me interested though.
Portia xx
Hi Portia!
My bedtime perfume varies, as does my attitude. Sometimes I like to test perfumes at night. I’ll dab one scent on one wrist and a different one on the other. This works great because if I don’t like them they’ve usually faded by morning.
A similar principle applies to vanilla centric perfumes: I like them on my skin for a few hours and then I wish they’d go away! Night time is perfect.
If I don’t want to be challenged I’ll just opt for a comfort scent, however I define it at the time.
XOXO
Hi SuzyQ,
Yes, we are ever changing. I love that your bedtime frag choices reflect that.
Interesting about the tenacity of vanilla on you and that it annoys you after a while. That’s a note I never get sick of.
Portia xx
I wear le labo labdanum for bed. I find it so peaceful. It smells like new babies to me..at least on my skin and I find that super soothing. 🙂
Hi Echo Charlie,
Beautiful correlation. All the parents I know of new babies aren’t looking super soothed though. He He He.
Portia xx
Since it’s difficult for me to reach a “too much” point, I’ve been doing bedtime layering without calling it that, I realize. Scented soap and then powder as part of the bath/shower process, then comes the splash or spritz of whichever of my scents appeal that night. None of these three match and yet there’s never a clash as far as I’m concerned. Husband sometimes just says, mmmm. lol I used to do only the lavender thing at bedtime, but frankly, I got sick of it and realized any beloved fragrance will do. I echo my husband’s sentiment. Mmmm.
Ha Ha Ha! PJ, that is a great story. Love the MMMMMMMM.
I have to be a little careful with my nightime choices because some of the darker scents give Jin nightmares but otherwise it’s spritz what I want. Sometimes I get an MMM of appreciation too.
Portia xx
I don’t perfume myself before bed, but I usually like to burn a softly scented candle in a soothing scent for a while. I also drink herbal or decaf teas before bed which I love the fragrances of. The fragrance I wear during the day usually is on the last of the bottom notes which is low key and pleasant, so I really don’t feel the need to spritz anything else on.
Hey Natalie,
Candles provide a perfect wash of scent, I love them too. Jin has a wide variety of South Korean teas that we will sometimes have, they are nuttier and more interesting taste and scent wise than what we Aussies are used to and less full of the bad stuff.
Lucky you that your scent sticks around so well, by bedtime I’m just my stinky old self.
Portia xx
I almost always wear fragrance to bed. Sometimes a new sample I want to try, and although I rarely (fortunately) am around for the drydown, I can really concentrate on the top and middle notes. At other times it is a favourite, a Goutal often, and I keep a Pacifica solid next to my bed in case I forgot.
Hi there Hamamelis,
Yes, I so agree with you. It’s fragrance without distraction. There’s something particularly Zen about going into the notes as you are between awake and sleep, it sends me off beautifully.
Annich Goutal makes lovely, pretty, interesting fragrances. I sometimes use Songes (Dreams) or Mandragore for bedtime. YUM!
Which do you use?
Portia xx
Encens Flamboyant, Myrrhe Ardente, Songes, Mon Parfum Cherie par Camille.
Heure Exquise is my ‘shalimar’ and found it too beautiful to wear to bed, but I may change that after this post.
I so enjoy your posts, Portia, and am often inspired to try something new. I like to put Caudalie Divine Oil on my face and hair right before I sleep, mostly because it smells so good.
Thanks Peggy,
I don’t know Caudalie Divine Oil at all. Is it a moisturiser? What does it smell of? Expensive?
Portia xx
Sounds lovely Portia.
I am in a honeymoon phase with my shalimar eau de toilette. Snagged a vintage bottle from ebay on the cheap. Love the smell. I got my nose on the ‘initial’ flankers before and it’s fun to compare. Anyway I like the cosy amberness for sleeping.
Edward,
You are wearing my favourite of all time. Sometimes when I spritz I ask myself why I own the others. What a fragrance. You smell lovely.
Portia xx
Your posts are so fun to read, Portia! After a hot shower, I’m finding that a generous spray of Body Shop’s Smoky Rose White Musk is the perfect bedtime scent. It’s gentle, fresh, and relaxing. Maybe I’ve created a scent connection between it and my bedtime routine…..
The Body Shop Red Musk is also good!
Thanks jadaflightofideas, what a lovely thing to read on waking up this morning.
If it creates a connection and works then I’m pleased for you. You might want to vary your routine sometimes in case of discontinuation though. Body Shop frags punch well above their price poiint, don’t they?
Portia xx
I’ve never done this, but I’m very new to perfume and have a very small collection that I’m not sure would really waft me to sleep. I feel like I would want something special just for sleeping, perhaps something with lavender as that often helps me sleep.
Hi Tandaina,
Lavender is excellent for sleep. There is a huge range from simple to freaky available out there. For simple I like the L’Occitane Lavende Eau de Cologne, which also makes a great bath scent. Slightly more involved are Pour Un Homme de Caron and Brin de Reglisse by Hermes.
A great place to get samples is Surrender To Chance, I am affiliated but they’re a great place to try things.
Happy spritzing.
Portia xx
Pour Un Homme is my favourite bedtime spray, for days when a bit of help relaxing is needed. It would be Jicky if I had a large vat, but I want to save that for daytime when I’ll smell it longer!
I like to spritz before sleep, too. If my legs ache, I’ll have a hot bath, but often it’s just climbing into bed with a book, after I’ve put on something comforting. What I wear changes depending on the weather, but it has to be something a) uncomplicated, that won’t engage the brain, and b) inexpensive. Favorites include Mariella Burani, Smell Bent One, Hanae Mori (winter), Hanae Mori Haute Couture (summer), and any simple rose, whether it’s just rose lotion or the dead-cheap YSL Paris Printemps LE I picked up for a song.
Hi Mals86,
Always great to see you. I LOVED your Violets piece on Muse In Wooden Shoes recently.
Interesting. I prefer something that engages my brain because I fall asleep to the dreams and thoughts, the wild imaginings that fragrance brings for me. If my brain is not given something to distract it then I am often spiraling.
I like those Paris spring editions, so sweetly rose. An effervescent tingle. Lucky you on the bargain.
Portia xx
I always wear some fragrance to bed. Very often it’s Shalimar or Coromandel (decant fading fast!!), an amber scent or anything that isn’t too strong or pervasive. In the summer I like fresh scents like one of L’Occitane’s Verbenas. I wear one on the back of my hand as well because I tend to have it tucked up near my face. I spritz the sheets with something in the late afternoon too sometimes…Marc Jacobs cucumber or basil, a lavender scent or anything that is clean smelling and not to overwhelming. My dogs often smell of whatever I’ve spritzed the bed with as well :). And I often burn incense as well as I fiddle on my tablet, watch a bit of tv, etc. before settling in for the night. 🙂
Hi there taleofahare,
Tonight I chose Shaimar vintage parfum for my bed spritz. I’ve just finished my coffee and am replying to all your wonderful comments with the warm ice cream swirl over smoky leather and resins wafting out of my top. MMMMMMMMM
Those Marc Jacobs colognes were excellent refreshers, great idea for the linen. Clever.
Portia xx
Good, I’m not the only one that has a nightly perfume ritual. I must have a cup of chai before bed, then brush my teeth. In that time, I think about what I will wear to bed. Normally, I go for vintage Bal or I go for Chanel no 5. Last night it was MKK.
Hi there Eldarwen22,
Yes, Bedtime Spritz Tribe.
CHANEL No 5 is quite often a bedtime spritz for me too, so many happy memories of my Mum.
Jin bought a bottle of MKK at the Palais Royal store, they were so besotted with him that they also gifted him a Lutens decant and spritz bottle when he was unhappy with the ritual of dabbing. He has been wafting it quite often and smells so good in it.
Portia xx
Ps. ADORE Ylang Vanille and always mourn my lack of it. I think I have about fourteen squirts left and then it’s R.I.P. I would like an unlimited supply to be honest. Such a total mood booster so lovely.
I totally get the disparate thing for contrast but wonder why you are having caffeine before bed. For me it is all about Rooibos. SUCH a night drug by god. Duncan can’t get through a full episode of Dynasty if he has some redbush on the go. I think you are probably like me, one of the overstimulated, so if you haven’t tried rooibos I THOROUGHLY recommend it.
As for me, call me gay but I am loving Nina by Nina (1987 parfum) for bed as is it utterly beautiful and just smells like an angel. I definitely agree that reaching out for something gorgeous smelling helps you somehow detach from the events of the day and sleep. Like dislodging the subconscious or something. Or am I just spaking the usual b-shit.
Hey sexy man, I drink coffee all day and night. It’s interspersed with tea, water, fruit juices and milk but coffee is the mainstay. You’d be frightened by how much of it.
The good news is that a local tea merchant has your Rooibos tea and I’ve ordered some. Did you know I have a cupboard in the kitchen that has ONLY my teas in it? Everything I love is to excess.
Somewhere around here I have a little Nina, not the parfum though. Is it much richer and more vibrant or deeper and more mysterious?
When Michael Edwards was clearing out his collection of fragrances collected over a lifetime I was lucky enough to grab his Ylang & Vanille. Before that I was eeking out the last 5ml of a 30ml decant and wondering how I would live without it. Serendipitously I now don’t have to for at least another year. Who knows what will happen after that.?
Your usual bullshit makes more sense to me than most peoples straight talk.
Portia xx
How marvellous you are. I love this and I also drink coffee to excess (this morning’s breakfast: Duncan’s small cup to my two mugs at one go (to save me going downstairs to get the inevitable second one).
I also adore teas, but the thing about rooibos if you like the taste (and I do – I always add some nutmeg, all spice, ginger or cloves to it to make it even nicer) is that for certain, overwrought nervous systems it is a TOTAL sedative. I actually won’t let Duncan have any at night if we are watching a film as I know he’ll be fast asleep within ten minutes). It’s also apparently an amazing anti-oxidant and all these other properties so I am literally never without it. Coffee for morning: rooibos for night.
By the way, how did you manage to get perfumes from such a legend? Do you know him personally? That man certainly knows a thing or two about scent, innit.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who does this! My husband thinks I’m nuts, but a little Ava Luxe Sacred on my wrist at night makes me feel like I’m wrapped up in love. Sometimes I switch it around with Lutens Iris Silver Mist…but it feels so good to have a little waft of something pretty in bed!
YAY Ladona,
We are tribe. There is a certain someone who will and a bunch of then that wont. Lucky us that we get the sweet smelling night glory.
Anything that helps you feel wrapped up in love is a keeper. I love the Ava Luxe brand too, very cool scents and reasonably priced.
Portia xx
Hi, Portia. Always enjoy your posts. I have a list of what I think of as my “night fragrances”. Those I mainly spritz in the evening. They are comforting to me and help me go to sleep. I never try a new one in the evening, in case it makes me jumpy or has negative connotations for me. I can add one to the night list after wearing it a couple of days. Tocade and Femme are good ones for night. And Silences in certain times of year.
Thanks Pam,
Ahhh Femme and Silences are two lovely bedtime fragrances. Great choices.
I do have a little Tocade and I will give it a whirl during the week to see if it is a gooodie too.
Portia xx
Oooo, Silences sounds like exactly the sort of scent I am loving right now! Does anyone know if the bottles available at Amazon or Fragrancenet are likely to be authentic? Everywhere I’m seeing folks claiming fakes and as a newbie pefume lover it’s becoming hard to figure out where the real stuff resides (as this one is discontinued and no longer being sold by the big department stores as far as I can tell.)
Hi there Tandaina,
My personal Silences stash has come from here. They have the old Parfum de Toilette, which is before the reformulation. I’m not affiliated.
http://www.fragranceshop.com/discount-perfume/silences-by-jacomo-tester-for-women-pdt-spray-34-oz.html
Portia xx
Thank you!