"Honey, don't get your shirt dirty—I need to breathe it in!" "Uh, okay, but why?" "To sleep better."
This quirky advice is backed by science. Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) conducted a study with 155 participants, finding that exposure to a partner's scent during sleep enhances sleep quality—even without their physical presence.
The UBC team detailed their findings in a recent publication, confirming better sleep outcomes for those sleeping near their partner's body odor.
To collect authentic body odor, partners wore t-shirts for 24 consecutive hours, skipping deodorant, perfume, smoking, or odor-altering foods. The shirts were frozen to preserve the scent.
Participants then slept with two t-shirts in their pillowcase for two nights each, unaware of which belonged to their partner. Mornings brought questionnaires on well-being and restfulness.
Participants reported feeling more rested after partner's scent nights, validated by wearable tracker data showing genuine sleep quality gains.
"Our results provide new evidence that simply sleeping with a partner's scent improves sleep efficiency. Participants saw an average boost of more than 2%," said lead author Marlise Hofer. "This matches effects from oral melatonin supplements, a common sleep aid," she added, noting less tossing and turning.
The research also underscores long-term benefits of partner proximity for relaxation, calm, and sustained sleep health.
Source: UBC News Release
