Sniffing your partner’s tee can help you sleep well

Having trouble sleeping? Forget counting sheep. All you may need is your romantic partner's favourite T-shirt wrapped around your pillow, as researchers have found that the scent of a romantic partner can improve sleep.

The study suggests that the scent of a romantic partner can improve your quality of sleep. This is true regardless of whether or not you are consciously aware that the scent is even present.

“A growing body of evidence has shown that close relationships are essential to our health and well being,” said study co-author Frances Chen from the University of British Columbia in Canada.

“But far is known less about the role of scent in relationships and social support processes. The current study provides new evidence that the mere scent of a romantic partner improves sleep efficiency,” Chen added.

Previous research has shown that romantic relationships and close physical contact can provide many physical and mental benefits, including aiding in a good night's sleep.

Other research has shown that scents can have profound and evocative effects on the brain. What has not yet been clearly demonstrated is a direct connection between the two.

“The effect we observed in our study was similar in magnitude to that reported for melatonin supplements — a commonly used sleep aid. The findings suggest that the scent of our loved ones can affect our health in powerful ways,” said study researcher Marlise Hofer.

This research suggests that simple strategies such as taking a partner's scarf or shirt along when travelling may have measurable effects on our sleep.