If you have problems sleeping you may have asked yourself if the sleep sprays, usually consisting of flower extracts and essential oils, actually work?

We all know that we struggle to function without at least six or seven hours of sleep a night (depending on your age) and for this reason, it makes sense that the beauty industry is focusing their attention on those who need a little help in the sleep department — after all, what makes you look better than a good sleep, because there is no need for copious amounts of undereye makeup, nor creams to make your skin look more refreshed.

There are many different products on the market, from Lush’s Twilight Body Spray, which is meant to be used as a sleeping aid and contains a soothing blend of tonka, lavender, and ylang-ylang, designed to make you feel sleepy; to ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, formulated to help you fall asleep faster, as well as improve your quality of sleep thanks to its combination of pure essential oils, including lavender and chamomile, patchouli and vertivert.

That’s all good and well, but how effective are these products, really? It would seem that ThisWorks has been one of the most reviewed products, and because of this, we will focus on this particular brand. According to a Mamamia writer, she was skeptical but after using the spray she found that she fell asleep faster than she had in years and has continued to use the product since then. The TheseFourWalls blogger has said the same thing, and the reviews on Amazon seem to suggest that for most people, although not all, it really helped.

This may not be the solution for everyone, and brands and their products differ, but it may be worth giving it a shot, especially because the science behind these sprays makes sense.

Health asked Raj Dasgupta MD about these sprays and he revealed that certain scents have the ability to make you feel more relaxed and less stressed, which in turn help with sleep. He also revealed how lavender has been linked to sleep, saying, "Numerous studies confirm its calming, soothing, and sedative effects. It's even been shown to work the same way biochemically that certain anti-anxiety medications do with certain neurotransmitters in your brain."

The executive director of the New York Institute of Aromatherapy, Amy Galper, also commented on how scent affects sleep, telling The Cut, “Studies have shown that aromas can create a physiological response that causes our body to produce hormones — including melatonin, the hormone that promotes restful sleep.”

Now, all of this aside, it’s important to remember that scent is just one of the many components which make up a good sleep, and it’s essential to also take into consideration the temperature of your bedroom, limit your caffeine and alcohol intake, don't take afternoon naps, avoid looking at blue lights emitted by technology.