I’m high maintenance in bed. 

That’s right – I have very specific needs when it comes to my sleep. You might even call me difficult. Here are just a few of my non-negotiables:

• I must be enveloped in soothing sound (a perfectly calibrated mix of white noise machine, fan on high, and – weather depending – AC blasting)
• 65 degrees is the ideal sleep temp (68 degrees is the absolute max – I won’t hear any argument to the contrary)
• Earplugs (I know, I know – then what’s the point of the aforementioned soundscape? Trust me, there is a system at work)
• Air purifier (I’m sensitive to allergens; it’s also nice that the machine makes noise)
• A lavender sachet tucked under my pillow (for relaxation and inner peace)

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The most important one? Luxurious, hotel-quality sheets that keep me cool. Because I’m not only a high maintenance sleeper – I’m also a very, very sweaty one. Luckily, I’ve started sleeping on SIJO: their AiryWeight eucalyptus sheets are absurdly soft and made to satisfy even the fussiest among us.

Read on for my full review!

Eucalyptus vs Cotton (aka, Everything I Thought I Knew Was a Lie)

Now seems like a good time to tell you that, until I discovered SIJO, I had very average sheets. 

Moi, a finicky little sleep snob? It’s true. I had been gifted some Amazon-brand sheets a few years ago and I was so used to them, I hadn’t let myself consider that they weren’t optimal. I knew that they were super soft and comfy; the worn, familiar feel of the long-staple cotton reminded me of sleeping in my childhood bed. 

I also knew that I was waking up almost every morning damp with sweat. But it couldn’t possibly be my sheets’ fault. They were 100% cotton! 

I was under the all-too-common misconception that Cotton is King. We as a society seem to be obsessed with Egyptian cotton; it’s supposedly the softest and most breathable material – especially when you’re talking high thread count (700+). But as I started to grow dissatisfied with my sheets and curious about other options, I learned what SIJO fans have known for years: it’s really all about Eucalyptus.

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SIJO’s signature AiryWeight sheets are made from TENCEL™ Lyocell – which, according to their website, is the fancy term for eucalyptus fibers. That sounds scratchy and uncomfortable, you might be thinking – or maybe I’m projecting here. Personally, as I embarked on a quest to find the perfect sheets, I was dubious about sharing the sleep habitat of a koala. Anything that could be described as “fibrous” felt like the opposite of luxury. 

Spoiler: SIJO Was Right, I Was Wrong

I’ve always loved the serene feeling of all-white bedding. But, staring at SIJO’s colors – an array of moody hues like light pink “Blush” and cool blue “Sky” – I began to change my tune. I settled on the dark green “Forest,” deciding to really lean into the eucalyptus vibes. My bed would become a lush jungle. I would align myself with the natural rhythms of the earth, falling asleep at sunset and waking at sunrise, no phone alarm necessary. I could see it all. I ordered myself a king set, which included 1 fitted sheet, 1 top sheet, and 2 pillowcases for $184.50. 

I’ll admit, I gulped at the steep price tag – despite my bougie ways, I’m not used to spending money on nice sheets. But I reasoned that it was a worthwhile experiment that might turn into a worthwhile investment. While I waited for my set to arrive, I did a deep dive into the alleged wonders of eucalyptus. I wasn’t yet convinced – why should I make the switch for good?

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I actually initially considered another one of SIJO’s best-selling options: the TempTune Cotton Sheet Set with CLIMA™ Tech. It felt like it would be an easier switch from my old cotton sheets. But the AiryWeight features piqued my interest, and emboldened me to imagine a whole new way to sleep... Dramatic? Maybe. 

_{Here are some benefits that made me go, “Ooooh”:} 

• Eucalyptus fiber is naturally cooling and moisture-wicking – ideal for hot sleepers. SIJO’s sheets promised to stay cool all night long, so I could sleep peacefully and not wake up sweaty
• Eucalyptus is inherently breathable, repelling moisture-causing bacteria, mold, and fungus. SIJO adds an extra silver ionic anti-microbial treatment to repel the gross stuff that can otherwise spread
• Unlike other materials, eucalyptus is uniquely hypoallergenic. If you’re chronically waking up stuffy and sneezy from your sheets, this is a major consideration
• These sheets are sustainable & OEKO-TEX 100 Certified. Making eucalyptus sheets takes 1/10 of the water required for cotton sheets!

But could the AiryWeights walk the walk? Could they truly keep me cool and sweat-free and even… improve the quality of my sleep? 

I had to put them to the test. 

Sleeping is Believing

The first night I tried out my new sheets, I immediately felt a tactile difference from my old Sheets That Shall Not Be Named. 

They were soft. Like, really soft. 

I had to admit: these eucalyptus sheets were even softer than cotton.

Shocking but true. They were silky to the touch. They felt expensive! As I snuggled with my lavender pillow, I wiggled around and made snow angels in my sheets, luxuriating in the 5-star-hotel-quality smoothness until I finally drifted off to sleep… 

…and woke up completely sweat free.

I didn’t even wake up during the night to kick off my covers. Nor did I have to keep flipping my pillow to try to experience the “cool side.” With AiryWeight, both sides are the cool side! Other customers mentioned this in their reviews, and they weren’t kidding. I stayed cool, dry, and solidly asleep all night long.