Ask my husband, and he’ll tell you what it’s like to encounter me first thing in the morning. Most days, it’s not pretty. I’ve become an incredibly light sleeper over the last eight or so years, and just one restless night’s sleep is enough to send me reeling into crabby oblivion until lunchtime. (My deepest apologies to those of you who put up with my morning monster on a daily basis.) I wake up at the slightest movement or noise, and most nights even ear plugs aren’t enough to help me sleep through the night.

It was maybe six months ago that I decided I’d had enough of waking up tired and crabby, feeling like I hadn’t gotten enough sleep — even though I get 7 to 8 hours every night. I set out on a quest to find a natural sleep aid that would help me get more-restful sleep. In the past, melatonin had helped me fall asleep, but not stay asleep, so I was hoping something else out there would do the trick.

{Side note: I mistakenly tried Sominex on a family trip to Wisconsin Dells this summer (for lack of other options available at the gas station) – in an attempt to sleep through snoring the equivalent of a howitzer — and boy, did I feel absolutely horrible the next morning. Crabby, groggy and more crabby.}

I looked in the product guide on EcoHuddle.com and found a whopping two suggestions. But thankfully I went on a whim and tried one of the recommendations: Nature’s Inventory Sleep Aid Wellness Oil. Now, this isn’t the typical sleep aid that you ingest — because essential oil isn’t intended to be consumed — but one that you apply topically. I slather a little on my neck and shoulders just before bedtime, the idea being to inhale the aroma of the essential oils that relieve your symptoms. The Sleep Aid Wellness Oil contains essential oils of lavender, jasmine and sandalwood, which promote a faster, more-relaxed journey to sleepdom, as well as deep sleep. A carrier oil (in this product, jojoba oil) balances out the mixture so it’s safe to apply to skin.

I can say from my experience that it works. The first few nights I used it, I slept better than I had in years. I slept all night and woke up refreshed, feeling like I’d had enough sleep — even waking before the alarm and ready to get up. That, my friends, has never happened in my 32 years on this planet. I thought perhaps that this amazing change was a result of a few factors combined, so I’ve tested a few options to single out the effective source of my happy sleep experiment. I stopped using the oil for awhile; I used the oil and melatonin together; I used only melatonin; then I went back to using only the oil. And without the oil, I woke up tired and feeling like I needed more sleep, every time. I’m back to using the oil regularly, and I feel immediately in the morning, each morning, that I’ve slept well.  I even recommended it to a co-worker who was having trouble sleeping — waking up at 4 a.m. on the dot, every morning. She tried it and slept until her alarm went off at a more reasonable hour.

I will say that if you’re not used to jojoba oil, know that it doesn’t absorb immediately. Yes, it feels oily. But it has moisturizing properties, so don’t be scared of it. Plus, several of Nature’s Inventory products are certified organic, including the Sleep Aid Wellness Oil, which I must add smells heavenly.

Now ask my husband what it’s like to encounter me first thing in the morning. He might just tell you that Medusa has retreated and it’s safe to initiate a conversation before 9 a.m.!