Three Most Surprising Things That Affect Your Dreams

1) SMELLS
Do sweet smells lead to sweet dreams? One small study found that sniffing flowers at a particular point in the sleep cycle led to more positive dreams, while a sulphur odor was linked to negative ones. Though researchers say you can't replicate those results in your bedroom (by the time you're dreaming, that lilac blossom scent you spritzed pre-bedtime can't stimulate you), there's a possibility that a sudden aroma—bacon wafting up from the kitchen, for example—could infiltrate your dream. "Dreams are sleep protective," says J. Catesby Ware, PhD, Chief of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, in Norfolk, VA. "So instead of waking up, you incorporate those stimuli into your dream."



2) SOUNDS
You wake up after dreaming you're stuck in a burning building—and realize that the fire alarm you heard was actually your alarm clock. What's with that? There's a narrow window for sounds to get through to your brain during sleep, says Dr. Barrett: "They need to be low enough that they don't wake you but high enough that you perceive them." So let a recording of ocean waves play softly throughout the night. You might recall a dream about a beach vacation or wake up feeling relaxed.



3) SPICY FOOD
It's simple: Anything that could cause indigestion—cheese, spicy foods, a big meal—makes you stir more, meaning you have a better shot of remembering that nightmare. "The rule of thumb is that you need to wake up within five minutes of having a dream to recall it," says Dr. Ware. For rest that's more peaceful all around, eat dinner at least two hours before bedtime, and choose nighttime snacks wisely (read: no Haagen-Dazs if you're lactose intolerant). Since caffeine can have the same disruptive effect, it's best to cut off your coffee intake post-2 p.m. too.