Sleep: the market is shifting – and so are the expectations of formulators

The sleep segment is entering a new phase. Brands and development teams are no longer seeking quick “fall asleep faster” solutions but ingredients that help restore meaningful sleep.

Feedback from consumers, formulators, and recent scientific literature all point in the same direction:

• emotional stress disrupts sleep,
• nights are fragmented,
• recovery is incomplete,
• mornings are not refreshing enough.

R&D and marketing teams looking for innovation now explore solutions that consider the biological complexity of sleep, especially its tight connection with emotional regulation.

What current science highlights

Recent studies emphasise several key factors influencing restorative sleep:

• serotonin-related neuronal activity,
• emotional load processing,
• sleep architecture (cycle organisation, transitions, depth),
• and the ability to initiate sleep without heavy sedation.

Publications exploring the stress–mood–sleep axis confirm the major role of emotional recovery in the perception of sleep quality.
These insights guide today’s most forward-looking projects.

Our scientific contribution: exploring the emotion-sleep connection

At Phodé, our long-standing work on olfaction, serotonin and emotional modulation naturally led us to investigate sleep.
Our preclinical work on Innolphae® indicates patterns consistent with scientific literature: support for sleep initiation and a better organisation of sleep phases, especially those involved in emotional and mental recovery.

The effect is not sedative – rather, it enhances the conditions for a more restorative night.
For formulation teams, it opens avenues for more refined and meaningful innovation.

Why this matters for brand and R&D teams?

Differentiation in the sleep market is no longer about one single mechanism. It’s about an integrated approach:

• understanding the stress-sleep relationship,
• addressing emotional recovery,
• leveraging an ingredient with an original absorption and action profile,
• benefiting from scientific and formulation support.

Innolphae® fits this approach. Now extended into a dedicated sleep application, it offers opportunities for brands seeking recovery-focused differentiation.

Ready to explore this perspective?

We support R&D and marketing teams in developing tailored, scientifically grounded sleep concepts.

👉 Discover Innolphae® Sleep
👉 Contact us to build a project aligned with your brand