Wool is Cool!

We think of wool as something that will only keep us warm and cozy in the winter or cooler seasons. We picture ourselves wrapped up in a thick wool blanket, or wool sweater and we picture warmth and comfort - but wool also provides relief and comfort when it is warm outside. Why does this happen?

The temperature regulating properties of wool are actually because of what wool is at a chemical or morphological (the scientific study of the structure and form) level. Wool actively responds to changes in body temperature and the surrounding environment.

Wool is not passive insulation; it acts as a thermoregulatory cycle. Wool absorbs and releases moisture vapour based on changes in humidity and heat. Wool actually absorbs the moisture vapour that we release while we sleep and pulls heat away from the body - keeping us drier while we sleep and more comfortable.

“As the rate of moisture evaporated from the skin increases, the relative humidity of the microclimate adjacent to the skin increases. Wool fibres respond by increasing their moisture vapour content, which slows (or buffers) the rate of rise in humidity next to the skin. As moisture levels decrease, the fibres give up some of their stored moisture, again slowing the rate of humidity change” (Advances in Wool Technology. The Textile Institute, CRC Press)

There has been new research done on the impact of wool on sleep that demonstrates that wool leads to better sleep than synthetic fabrics. Much of our bedding/pillows are made with poly-fill and the research shows that polyester absorbs less than 1% of its weight in moisture - compared to the 30% absorption by wool.  This means that your sweat stays on the surface and humidity will build up between your body and your bedding - we all know the ick feeling of a sweaty head!  

So if it’s summer or winter - wool is really the best choice for our bedding and out clothing!