How Headspace and Ozlo help people drift off with sound
Ever wonder why the sound of rain makes you instantly drowsy, but a ticking clock drives you up the wall? That's because not all noise soothes the brain in the same way. Sleep sounds might seem like just background buzz, but they're carefully engineered to allow your brain to let go. Behind every babbling brook or rainforest storm track is an intricate design meant to quiet the mind, block out distractions, and nudge you toward sleep.
As more people rely on sleep sounds to wind down, the industry behind them has surged, which is evidence of just how common this nightly ritual has become. Mediation and mindfulness app Headspace, says 51% of listeners use its sleep content (the app has been downloaded more than 70 million times).
Ozlo, a company that created bluetooth earbuds that mask noise with sleep sounds, launched its flagship product in October 2024 after a successful Kickstarter. Since then, the company has sold nearly 100,000 units worldwide. Meanwhile, platforms like YouTube and Spotify are packed with 'deep sleep' playlists, sound baths, and endless loops of ambient noise.
Color noise—white, brown, or pink, which emit sound energy at different frequencies—can be surprisingly effective at helping you fall and stay asleep. But we often oversimplify how they work, says Ethan Cohen, a music and sound composer at Ozlo Sleepbuds, and these sounds alone aren't a cure-all.
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