Skip to content
Geur als slaapmiddel ziekenhuizen
2 min read

Scent: an underrated sleep aid in hospitals

Sleep is important for patients' health, well-being and, not insignificantly, recovery. In some cases, it may even be linked to healing and survival. But what do you do when patients' sleep quality is poor? Have you ever thought of applying scent in healthcare?

Sleep as Important Medicine

If you spend a third of your life sleeping, you better make sure you sleep well! After all, a good night's sleep not only ensures that you get out of bed with the right foot, but also improves your health.

During sleep, the body recovers. For example, damaged cells are repaired and new cells are formed. Metabolism is optimized and hormone balance is restored. And that's not all! Sleep also helps strengthen the immune system so that it better protects against disease. In short, adequate sleep is important for physical recovery.

The impact of poor sleep

This physical recovery is essential for patients in hospitals. Without proper recovery, hospital stays are longer and the pressure on care is increased. 

However, poor sleep - with thus a clear negative effect on recovery - is a common problem of patients in hospitals. Internists from the ORCA research consortium conducted research on this. What emerged: hospital patients sleep an average of 1.5 hours less, wake up more often and sleep less. What can be done about this?

Scent as a sleep aid

The use of scent is an effective way to improve this sleep quality. Indeed, scents such as lavender, chamomile, vanilla and jasmine have similar or even better effects on sleep than some sedatives and sleeping tablets. 

For example, a 2017 study by Karadag showed that lavender scent has an effect on healing in heart patients. 60 people participated in this study and were divided into two groups. Half were exposed to lavender scent, while the other half were given a placebo drug. The result: the sleep quality of those who smelled lavender scent improved and their restlessness also decreased. As a result, they healed faster, and naturally. Brilliant, even if we say so ourselves!

Sleep-inducing scents

But why do such scents work so well? Lavender scent, for example, possesses properties that excite the olfactory nerves in the nose. This then has a soothing and relaxing effect on the brain. Jasmine scent acts on the hypothalamus: a part of the limbic system that regulates our day and night rhythms and stimulates the need for sleep. Bonus: these scents also smell really good!

Smell and sleep in hospitals: a strong team

In short, much research has been done on the effects of scent on sleep behavior. The results speak for themselves: the use of scent in hospitals is a powerful tool to promote patients' sleep quality. Lavender or jasmine; which scent do you deploy?

Request scent samples

Discover more