6 min readMy introduction to Sijo bedding started with its AiryWeight duvet insert, which I’ve had for two years. This was the first time I experienced the ultra-smooth and cotton candy-light eucalyptus fibers. I knew I wanted to wrap myself up more in this material, so I eventually got the Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus sheet set too. The bedding feels more like buttery cashmere than cotton, and it's butterfly-wing light. The sheets come in 13 solid colorways and one striped option, which is what I chose. I loved that the gray-and-white lines gave my bed a bit of interest without distracting too much from the floral Nabela Noor Home wallpaper behind the dusty lilac headboard.
Pricewise, these fall in line with other eucalyptus sheets, as well as other quality cooling percale bedding. A queen set is $185, with a flat sheet, or $110 without. I have a king bed and always use a flat sheet, bumping the price a bit to $215.
The construction of these sheets makes it easy to put on my bed. For instance, the fitted sheet has an elastic strip on each corner that fits snugly over my 12-inch-high Tiami mattress. The pillowcases have an envelope closure to keep the pillows from slipping out. I have the down alternative Parachute pillows, which are certainly fluffy, and there is still a bit of room in the pillowcase without making the pillows look like they are trapped in a sausage casing.
Aesthetics aside, I also wanted cooling sheets for the hot summer months. (Eventually, I added the AiryWeight duvet cover in Sky to get the 360-degree experience.) I live in a 1930s brick house with a second floor that feels like a mini sauna when the temperature goes above 80 degrees. Even with the AC blasting, I have to rely on my Dreo tower fan to make it comfortable. The fibers in AiryWeight are called Tencel lyocell, which is essentially the pulp from FSC-certified eucalyptus wood, and are meant to have moisture-wicking and cooling properties—something I’ve come to rely more on after crossing into my 40s.
I’ve now tested these sheets for a year. Here is my honest review.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 5/5
Best for: Bedrooms that tend to run hot and stuffy, and anyone who has allergies or sensitive skin.
Not ideal for: Chilly winter months when you want to be swathed and cocooned.
Price at review: $215 (King size with a flat sheet)
Bottom line: The bedding is my go-to during the summer as the bedroom in my historical home is very warm, even with a fan. This cooling bedding doesn’t trap heat and keeps me comfortable at night.
What Are Eucalyptus Sheets?
When you come across bedding that is made from eucalyptus fibers, you’re looking at Tencel lyocell. Tencel is a brand name that produces this material, and lyocell is dissolved wood pulp that is processed via a sustainable closed-loop system (meaning: almost all of the organic solvents, 99 percent, used in production are captured and reused). Alternatively, the more budget-friendly viscose uses sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide to dissolve the wood fibers before the thread is formed.
Lyocell fibers are excellent at absorbing moisture. So much so that it is used in medical settings. It is also quite durable and retains its shape when wet—something I appreciate when doing laundry.
How Do Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheets Feel?
Silky is definitely the word that comes to mind when describing Sijo AiryWeight eucalyptus sheets. But unlike actual silk, which can feel as if it is paper-thin, the cellulose fibers of this bedding feel more substantial yet drape smoothly over my body when I sleep. I would describe its softness as something like whipped sateen or cashmere. Even so, it is not heavy at all. I can actually see it ripple when the ceiling fan is on. For comparison, my Cozy Earth bamboo viscose sheets feel thinner and tend to wrinkle more. On the other hand, the Ettitude bamboo lyocell set is as soft but feels heavier, making it ideal for transitional months. I consider the Sijo AiryWeight the Goldilocks because the weight is just right, almost like dandelion fluff, and I’ve yet to think that these feel stuffy, even when my bedroom is veering into sauna territory.
From a moisture-wicking perspective, these work like a sponge (but not the soggy kind). Just the other night, I woke up to my legs feeling sweaty, and the flat sheet absorbed everything right away, but I didn’t feel like I was sleeping on damp bedding.
Are They Good for Year-Round Sleeping?
I prefer to reserve the Sijo AiryWeight eucalyptus sheets for the hot summer months because the sheets help regulate my body temperature. When we have a heat wave, I actually swap my regular all-weather comforter for the Sijo AeroChill Cooling comforter, which is the thinnest cover I own. The combo of AiryWeight bedding and this comforter creates a barely-there barrier that’s close to sleeping with no cover at all.
Come November, the AiryWeight sheets actually feel cold(ish) when the temperatures in Cleveland drop. (For this reason, I only use flannel bedding between December and February.)
That’s not to say you can’t use them year-round. For one, if you are not living in a historical home with volatile seasonal room temperatures, this bedding will likely work just fine 365 days a year. In the fall, I swap cotton quilts for a down Ostermoor duvet. Since my husband sleeps hot, I use the AiryWeight bedding as a way to have a cocoon-like effect without making him feel like he is sleeping inside an oven.
How Do They Hold Up Over Time?
Pilling is a pet peeve of mine. Luckily, the Sijo AiryWeight sheets have not fallen victim to the pesky little fuzzballs. After using the set for a year, the sheets are still perfectly smooth and perhaps even softer than when I first took them out of the package. The site says that the bedding passes the 2,000 rub test in the lab—I believe it.
Since the stripe pattern is gray and white, I want to keep the brilliance of the pattern intact and wash them regularly with the plant-based Brooklinen detergent. There has been no fading or yellowing of the sheets. All the seams are snug, with no loose threads.
Is It Easy to Clean and Dry Them?
When it comes to laundry, I try to wash similar sheets together. That means the Sijo AiryWeight sheet set goes in with my percale cotton duvet cover and other lightweight bedding, like the viscose bamboo sheet from my son’s room. I only use plant-based detergent and wash in cold water.
When it comes to drying, I use the normal setting, even though the directions say, “tumble dry low.” Because the material is thin, the pillowcases sometimes get trapped in a fitted sheet, resulting in a ball of bedding. For this reason, if I have too many pillowcases in the wash, I just air dry them. While I do not iron the bedding because I can live with a few creases, I will occasionally use a handheld Steamery steamer on the pillows and the top of the flat sheet for a more finished look. (This only happens when I completely clean my bedroom and want it to look pristine, even for a day or two.)
Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheets Pros and Cons
AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheet Set (King)</h1>" title="<h1>AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheet Set (King)</h1>" data-fp-product-image="true" dataFpTag="data-fp-product-image" src="https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/product-images/4f6598ba-1a90-43a1-9e3e-0e7e260e6302/042425d1-685d-45b3-8428-230b5dbda4fa.jpg?resize=980:*" width="1112" height="998" decoding="async" loading="lazy"/>Pros
- Moisture-wicking properties keep hot sleepers from waking up in a puddle of sweat
- Lightweight feel is ideal when used with a ceiling fan and other light bedding
- Can withstand over 2,000 rubs without pilling or snagging
- Fitted sheet has rubber bands on the bottom corners for a secure fit on mattresses as high as 16 inches
Cons
- Only one patterned colorway (stripes) is available
Verdict: Are They Worth Buying?
Yes, I would absolutely recommend the Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus sheet set to anyone who is looking for a cooling sheet that happens to be incredibly light and buttery soft. I’ve had these for over a year and have not noticed any pilling or color fading.
These sheets are Oeko-Tex-certified and use a sustainable manufacturing process without harsh chemicals. Not only is this good for the environment, but the bedding is also gentle on sensitive skin or anyone with allergies.
