Their lingering scent will help you rest.
The science:
For a new two-night study, 155 people swapped their pillowcases for T-shirts that were either clean or had been worn by their SO or a stranger for 24 hours.
The results show that having your partner’s scent nearby can improve sleep quality just as much as taking melatonin.
Expert insight:
Being in the presence of your romantic partner can relieve stress and put you at ease, says lead study author Marlise Hofer, a psychology graduate student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
Simply breathing in his or her scent can have a similar effect, helping you sleep more deeply when you're alone.
The bottom line:
To sleep better when you're traveling or otherwise solo, bring one of your partner's recently-worn tees into bed with you. (It should have a faint but discernible scent.)
Study participants used it as a pillowcase, but wearing or cuddling with it would likely have the same benefit, Hofer says.