‘I tested sleep sprays and one 11p-per-night mist had me asleep in minutes’

Struggling to sleep? Shopping writer Lucy Addicott pitted two sleep sprays against each other and one is now an essential in her bedtime routine

Laying in bed tired, yet unable to fall asleep, is a very frustrating feeling and a problem many of us face. I’ve tried several hacks over the years to combat insomnia, from magnesium tablets to sleep stories, but none have stuck with me quite as much as a sleep spray.

I recently discovered the Kloris Soothing Mist – an aromatherapy spray first used in luxury London spas but now bottled up into an at-home product to help people make their space more relaxing. Having used it for a good couple of weeks now, I’ve found it helps me nod off within a minute or two.

But, the Kloris Soothing Mist isn’t the only sleep spray on the market and to truly put it to the test, I got my hands on another calming contender – The White Company Sleep Soothing Pillow Mist. If it wasn’t clear by now, I take my sleep very seriously so I was intrigued to see which spray would come up trumps in terms of price, scent, longevity, packaging and most importantly – effectiveness at helping me drift off.

Price

Sleep sprays are a product used every night, therefore, an affordable price point per spritz is crucial. The White Company Sleep Soothing Mist retails for £22 at Selfridges (150ml), so it is cheaper than the Kloris Soothing Mist which is priced at £28 for a 100ml bottle.

However, Kloris is currently running an exclusive 10% off code for readers who apply MIST10 at checkout, bringing it down to £25.20. There are 200+ nights of deeper rest in a single Kloris bottle – this comes down to less than 11p per night.

Strength

The potency of each sleep spray goes hand in hand with price, in my opinion. Although The White Company sleep spray is cheaper per ml, I found it required almost three times the amount of sprays to reach the same level of scent that the Kloris sleep spray creates. With Kloris, I only need to spritz twice for the entire bed to be enveloped in a soothing scent, whereas The White Company is more like five or six.

It became instantly clear within seconds of spraying The White Company sleep spray that the Kloris option would last longer and I wasn’t wrong. By morning, I couldn’t smell any remnants of The White Company, whereas when I use Kloris, the scent lingers for hours. Each Kloris spray is ‘concentrated aromatherapy, not a diluted fragrance,’ as evidenced by its staying power.

Scent

The White Company sleep spray has top notes of lavender and chamomile, combined with restorative clary sage and calming vetivert cedarwood. To me, it smells like a fresh spring day walking through a lavender field and it’s really pleasant and delicate.

Kloris Soothing Mist is a lot stronger in scent, formulated with five sleep-supporting botanicals – lavender, patchouli, ylang-ylang, rose geranium and blood orange. This combination of premium essential oils helps shift our nervous system sensory signal into rest mode.

For me, the Kloris Soothing Mist truly does make me feel like I’m in a five-star spa, or sleeping in a luxury hotel. While I enjoy both scents, I find the aroma of Kloris all encompassing, almost as if it wraps me in a dreamy cocoon.

The White Company scent is more refreshing and light, perhaps better suited to those who don’t like overly powerful fragrances. It is also important to note Kloris states its spray should not be sprayed directly onto skin, but The White Company spray can be used on the body.

Sleep

Now for the most important test of all – which spray helped me fall asleep quicker? The Kloris Soothing Mist has me drifting off within minutes of settling down into bed. The results of using it only get better over time as the body associates ‘sleep mode’ with the scent. Using it nightly strengthens the signal, and now when I go into my bedroom having spritzed the mist, I instantly feel more at ease and ready for bed.

The White Company Soothing Mist does smell nice and relaxing when getting into bed, but I wouldn’t say it directly helps me fall asleep quicker. I prefer to use this spray as a freshen up when I’m in bed reading, not to use as a solution to insomnia.

Packaging

Both sleep spray bottles are pleasing to the eye, but those who frequently travel may favour Kloris as the bottle is 100ml compared to The White Company’s 150ml, which may not fit within hand luggage liquid restrictions. The Kloris sleep spray is housed in a dark amber bottle with lilac lettering and gold foiling and The White Company in the brand’s signature style is minimalist and neutral with no colours.

I personally prefer The White Company packaging as it matches my bedroom interior better – however, I do think the Kloris bottle has a more premium look. I’m more than happy to have either bottle when it comes to packaging, as they both look pretty placed on my bedside table. Another option with pretty packaging is the NEOM Perfect Night’s Sleep Mist, £26 for 30ml.

Which sleep spray do I prefer?

Ultimately, I want my sleep spray to help me snooze, and the Kloris Soothing Mist wins by miles in that department. It’s a little more expensive than The White Company, but the code MIST10 does bring it down to less than 11p-per-night – well worth it in my opinion.

The White Company spray does have its place in a bedtime routine as the delicate lavender scent is lovely for when simply relaxing, however, the Kloris Soothing Mist still reigns supreme as my sleep spray of choice that’s an essential part of my nightly unwind.