[quote=âEstoyConfundidoâ post=52353]
Talalay Globalâs site says: "100% Natural Latex [/quote]
TG/LI will sometimes use the term Natural Latex to refer to their blended (NR/SBR) talalay. A misnomer. Not to be confused with 100% NR latex.
[quote=âEstoyConfundidoâ post=52353]
Talalay Globalâs site says: "100% Natural Latex [/quote]
TG/LI will sometimes use the term Natural Latex to refer to their blended (NR/SBR) talalay. A misnomer. Not to be confused with 100% NR latex.
Hi EstoyConfundido,
My comments were not about the quality or even the safety of their materials but about the claims they are making about it (see post #18 here). Regardless of who uses these chemicals in their latex formulation they are not natural chemicals.
You can see some similar concerns that were expressed by the FTC here and you can also see some lab test results of their ânatural latex memory foamâ pillow in the attachments to this post.
Phoenix
https://https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/66/Essentiamaterialtest.pdf
https://https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/66/EssentiaLabReport2.pdf
I read through the FTC stuff. Essentia canât claim anything without proof which is kinda obvious. Clearly they had to have changed something which was acceptable for the FTC. Honestly, based on the test results Essentia has provided I am comfortable with âparts per millionâ as I can at least put a unit of measurement to it which is more than I can do with any other mattress on the market.
As far as the attachments you link to, where did they come from? There is no mention of Essentia on there or the lab doing the testing. Whoâs to say that is even their products being tested? These could have easily been written up in Word by anyone.
Sharing something like that with no definitive proof is very strange to me. Arenât you now doing exactly what you claim Essentia has been doing?
Hi EstoyConfundido,
If you are comfortable with this type of logic (nobody has said anything so it must be fine) then of course that would be your own choice.
They were sent to me with a cover letter that went with the test results and was submitted to the lab by a credible source. I have also talked with someone that was involved in the pillow purchase. Having said that you are free to believe whatever you are comfortable believing.
In the end if you have read the information in this topic and the other topics about Essentia and you are comfortable with a purchase from them and the price you are paying then you will at least have made an informed decision which is all that really matters. My goal is to provide you with information but you are always free to choose what you do with it.
Phoenix
I realize this is an old thread, but it is VERY relevant to me today.
After having slept on a Savvy Rest mattress for the past year, with excruciating back pain and trying every âfixâ imaginable recommended by the folks at Savvy Rest, I have decided itâs time to bit the bullet and ditch the all latex mattress.
Plus, itâs sagging horribly now and, when I spoke to the guy at my local Savvy Rest store who sold it to me, his response was, âYeah, latexâespecially Talalayâwill do that. Just flip and rotate the top latex layer. Youâre supposed to both rotate and flip the top latex layer every six months anyway.â
What?! Iâve never heard of this! Plus, the holes on each side of the foam layer is different, so it would have a very different feel if it were flipped. (I can perhaps understand rotating it, but flipping it seems weird.)
Anyway, today I called Essentia, thinking I would try their mattresses, as a few of my friends have their mattresses and love them.
Frankly, at this point I am giving up on the âsafenessâ of an all natural (latex) mattress. I could care less about if they use polyurethane or not. I am in so much pain, I just want a mattress that is comfortable. (And I NEVER had back pain like this PRIOR to getting the latex mattress. At first I thought i just needed time to get used to it. But a year is PLENTY of time to get used to something. And, when I stay in higher-end hotelsâusually Marriotts that use Jameson foam mattresses, not the ones that use Simmons mattresses-- my back doesnât hurt and I wake up pain free. So, it is clearly the mattress that is causing my back issues.) I may even just get one of the Jameson mattresses from the Marriott store. At least I know I can sleep on those! (My only hesitation with going this route: a neighbor ordered one and said the mattress was NOT AT ALL like what is in hotels, that it was like âsleeping on cement.â So, I worry that the mattresses for sale to the public are not at all the same mattresses as in the hotelsâeven though Marriott claims they are the same.)
Anyway, after reading your post about Essentia, I am wondering if I just couldnât get a six-inch layer of Dunlop and put a 2-3 inch layer of Oeko-Tek certified polyfoam on top and get the same effect without spending an arm and a leg. (I already spent and arm and a leg on the Savvy Rest.)
If I were to go this route, where can I buy just a 2-3 inch Oeko-Tek certified layer of polyfoam? I am having trouble finding this in an online search.
Many thanks for this site and all of the efforts you put into it!
Hi ShopperGirl,
Iâm sorry to hear that the Savvy Rest mattress you chose didnât work out as well as you hoped for and wasnât a good âmatchâ for you in terms of PPP (although they certainly use high quality materials).
While itâs not possible to âdiagnoseâ mattress comfort issues on a forum with any certainty because there are too many unique unknowns, variables, and complexities involved that can affect how each person sleeps on a mattress in terms of âcomfortâ and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your Personal preferences) or any âsymptomsâ they experience ⌠there is more about the most common symptoms that people may experience when they sleep on a mattress and the most likely (although not the only) reasons for them in post #2 here.
There is also more about primary or âdeepâ support and secondary or âsurfaceâ support and their relationship to firmness and pressure relief and the ârolesâ of different layers in a mattress in post #2 here and in post #4 here that may also be helpful in clarifying the difference between âsupportâ and âpressure reliefâ and âfeelâ.
These posts are the âtoolsâ that can help with the analysis, detective work, or trial and error that may be necessary to help you learn your bodyâs language and âtranslateâ what your body is trying to tell you so you can identify the types of changes that have the best chance of reducing or eliminating any âsymptomsâ you are experiencing (at least to the degree that any symptoms are from your mattress rather than the result of any pre-existing issues you may have that arenât connected to a mattress).
Before you give up completely ⌠it may also be helpful if you could provide more information that compares and contrasts the specifics of how each layering combination you have tried compared to each other and the specific âsymptomsâ you experienced on each of them and even more importantly how (and how much) each of your specific symptoms changed with different combinations relative to the other combinations you tried previously. Information about the changes in your experience and symptoms can act as a pointer to the type or âdirectionâ of changes that may be most helpful.
The first step in identifying the types of changes that may be most helpful is to assess whether the symptoms you are experiencing are most likely to come from âcomfortâ and pressure point issues or are coming from support and alignment issues.
If they are coming from comfort and pressure point issues then changes to the upper layers of the mattress will often be the most effective solution.
If they are coming from support and alignment issues then changes to the deeper layers will often be the most effective solution.
The most common cause of lower back pain is either upper layers that are too thick/soft or deeper layers that are too soft although itâs also possible that there could be other reasons for lower back pain as well.
The firmness of a Talalay latex layer will be very close to the same on both sides even if the pincores are different. Their suggestion is also a good one because flipping and rotating a mattress (or an individual top layer) can help extend the useful life of the mattress or layer (see post #2 here).
You can see some comments about hotel mattresses in post #3 here. Many hotels will use a mattress pad on top of their mattress which can change the feel and performance of the mattress compared to using the mattress by itself.
There is more about the 3 most important parts of âvalueâ of a mattress purchase in post #13 here which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well you will sleep), durability (how long you will sleep well), and the overall value of a mattress compared to your other finalists based on suitability, durability, and all the other parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you (including the price or course and the options you have available after a purchase).
Outside of âcomfortâ and PPP the most important part of the value of a mattress purchase is durability which is all about how long you will sleep well on a mattress. This is the part of your research that you canât âfeelâ and assessing the durability and useful life of a mattress always depends on knowing the type and quality of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label (or how a mattress feels in a showroom or when it is relatively new) so I would always make sure that you can find out the information listed here so you can compare the materials and components to the quality/durability guidelines here to confirm that there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress before making any purchase.
In other words the suitability of a mattress is a separate issue than the durability and useful life of a mattress.
Outside of the topic you are posting in ⌠you can read some comments about Essentia and some of the misleading claims they make and some forum discussions with them (as well as some of the FTC issues they have had about their claims) in this thread and posts #3 and #4 here) as well. I certainly wouldnât treat the information on their website as a reliable source of âfact basedâ information. I would also make some very careful âvalueâ comparisons before purchasing any Essentia mattress because they tend to be in a much higher budget range than other mattresses that use similar quality materials as well.
There is more information in post #9 here about the different ways that one mattress can âmatchâ or âapproximateâ another one. Every layer and component in a mattress (including the cover) will affect the feel and performance of every other layer and component and the mattress âas a wholeâ so unless you are able to find another mattress that uses exactly the same type of materials, components, cover, layer thicknesses, layer firmnesses, and overall design (which would be very unlikely) then there really isnât a way to match one mattress to another one in terms of âcomfortâ and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your Personal preferences) based on the specifications of the mattress.
Mattress manufacturers generally try to differentiate their mattress from the mattresses made by other manufacturers and donât normally try to âmatchâ another mattress that is made by a different manufacturer so while you may find some local mattresses that use âsimilarâ materials or designs and there would be others that are in a similar general category or firmness range ⌠they will generally have different combinations of foam layers and components.
Unless a manufacturer specifically says in their description of a mattress that one of their mattresses in the same general category is specifically designed to âmatchâ or âapproximateâ another one in terms of firmness or âfeelâ (or they are very familiar with both mattresses and can provide reliable guidance about how they compare based on the âaveragesâ of a larger group of people) ⌠the only reliable way to know for certain how two mattresses would compare for you in terms of how they âfeelâ or in terms of firmness or PPP would be based on your own careful testing or actual sleeping experience on both of them.
There are also no âstandardâ definitions or consensus of opinions for firmness ratings and different manufacturers can rate their mattresses very differently than others so a mattress that one manufacturer rates as being a specific firmness could be rated very differently by another manufacturer. Different people can also have very different perceptions of firmness and softness compared to others as well and a mattress that feels firm for one person can feel like âmediumâ for someone else or even âsoftâ for someone else (or vice versa) depending on their body type, sleeping style, physiology, their frame of reference based on what they are used to, and their individual sensitivity and perceptions. There are also different types of firmness and softness that different people may be sensitive to that can affect how they ârateâ a mattress as well (see post #15 here) so different people can also have very different opinions on how two mattresses compare in terms of firmness and some people may rate one mattress as being firmer than another and someone else may rate them the other way around. This is all relative and very subjective and is as much an art as a science.
There is also more information about the different levels of organic certifications in post #2 here and some of the benefits of an organic certification in post #3 here and there is more about the different types of organic and safety certifications in post #2 here and more about some of the differences between organic and safety certifications in post #2 here that can help you decide which type of certification is most important to you.
In most cases Oeko-Tex is a certification that is used for latex and it would be much less common to see an Oeko-Tex certification for memory foam or polyfoam and CertiPUR is the most common âsafetyâ certification that is used for memory foam or polyfoam. The better online sources Iâm aware of for individual mattress layers and components are listed in the component list here. I would also keep in mind that polyfoam is a different and more resilient material than the material that is used in the top layers of the Essentia mattress which is a slow response material with little resilience.
If you are attracted to the idea of designing and building your own DIY mattress out of separate components and a separate cover then the first place I would start is by reading option 3 in post #15 here and the posts it links to (and option #1 and #2 as well) so that you have more realistic expectations and that you are comfortable with the learning curve, uncertainty, trial and error, or in some cases the higher costs that may be involved in the DIY process. While it can certainly be a rewarding project ⌠the best approach to a DIY mattress is a âspirit of adventureâ where what you learn and the satisfaction that comes from the process itself is more important than any cost savings you may realize (which may or may not happen).
If you decide to take on the challenge then I would either use the specs (if they are available) of a mattress that you have tested and confirmed is a good match for you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) as a reference point or blueprint and try and âmatchâ every layer and component in your reference mattress (including any springs, any foam layers, and the cover) as closely as possible or use a âbottom upâ approach (see post #2 here).
Phoenix
Thanks so much for your fast, detailed and thorough response, Phoenix. I will check out some of the links you provided.
My back issues are upper back and sciatica. My doc tells me itâs an alignment issue during sleep.
As far as my âlearning curve,â I have spent all the time I care to last year. I spent over four months researching before I bought that Savvy Rest, so I think I am up to speed. (Yes, this forum was one source of research.)
I am not a fan of the DIY stuff but I am thinking it is an option I should not overlook.
Sorry about the confusion as to Oeko-TEK certification for memory foam. I thought I had read that you posted that in one of your other comments.
As far as all of the configurations and my results; I have been through SO MANY over the past year, I cannot recall them all.
I know you actively promote and advocate for Savvy Rest and basically say everything they do is Gospel, but I am not a believer. As you say: mattresses are personal, and I made the HUUUUUUGE mistake of getting caught up in this âoh-it-has-to-be-non-toxicâ mantra, which led me down the SR path .
I still plan to research the Marriott mattresses by Jaimeson more. No, they are not the âoh-so-pureâ mattresses, but at least I know I can sleep on those.
Anyway, thanks again for all of the links. I will check them out.
Hi ShopperGirl,
There are a few memory foams that are Oeko-Tex certified but you will generally only find them in a "finished mattress (see here for example) and not as individual layers that can be purchased individually.
Iâm not certain where you read this but it certainly wasnât on this forum (and this is the only place that I post).
They do use high quality materials in their mattresses ⌠but I generally suggest that anyone that is considering them make some very careful value comparisons with other similar mattresses that are in lower budget ranges.
While I do recommend the members here âas a groupâ (and Savvy Rest isnât one of the members here) because I believe that they compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, knowledge, and transparency ⌠I donât make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or combinations of materials or components because the first âruleâ of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components or which type of mattress would be the best âmatchâ for you in terms of âcomfortâ or PPP or how a mattress will âfeelâ to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or âtheory at a distanceâ that can possibly be more accurate than your own careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial) or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).
I also donât believe that most mattress materials are âtoxicâ and I think that much if not most of the information about âtoxicâ materials on the internet is very misleading and in many cases is more about marketing than anything else.
For example ⌠one of the most common replies in the forum for those that are getting overly âcaught upâ in these types of issues is this one âŚ
I believe that the Marriott (Jamison) mattresses use 1.8 lb polyfoam which as you can see in the quality/durability guidelines here (and unlike the materials used in many other hotel mattresses) is a good quality material.
Phoenix
Iâve been searching the web for information on mattresses almost non stop for the last few days and itâs just my luck that, hours after placing an order for an Essentia Dormeuse, I discover this forum (and this thread). After reading over all 5 pages I am left with one question. In all honesty Iâm neither surprised or upset by the fact that this company is peddling misinformation. Quite frankly Iâm generally skeptical of any brand or company that focuses primarily on marketing itself as green, eco friendly, organic etc etc. That said, Iâm sure the company is very sneaky in itâs marketing practices and I recognized right (even before reading this thread) that the claim of being âorganicâ doesnât really mean anything. The question I have is⌠are there companies accessible to me in Vancouver (Canada) that make a low (or lower) emission product (in terms of off-gassing) of similar or better quality at a better price?
Hi confused1,
Iâve answered your questions in my reply here in the other topic you posted in with similar comments and questions.
Phoenix
Hi Phoenix,
I have been reading a lot of your post. Itâs incredible the amount of time and knowledge you add to each discussion. People like you make it so much easier for me to make an informed decision. Thank you for that. It is also nice that there are people that are willing to call out companies like essentia to reveal the truths.
I am also looking for a more natural mattress. How do I know if any of these companies are telling the truth on their websites? Is it just that essentia is more brazen about their claims and they are touting new technology that canât be verified because they are hiding behind patents? If I go to other sites like savvy rest and naturepedic they are claiming organic and natural too. But it looks like all three are using the same Dunlop latex. Is there really such a thing as 100% natural or do all these companies use a few non organic compounds like Diphenyl diisocyanate or Waxes styrene-butadiene copolymer? Are these three companies supplying about the same product in term of healthiest placing marketing gimmicks aside? Thanks.
Hi Brent,
Most reputable manufacturers will give you accurate information about the type of materials they use in their mattresses. Essentia is an exception where lab testing on their natural memory foam shows that it doesnât contain any latex that shows up in the tests so the claims that they are making about their natural memory foam containing latex arenât accurate.
Essentia does use 100% natural Dunlop latex in their base layers but itâs their so called âlatex memory foamâ which is misleading.
The only reliable way to to assess the âsafetyâ of different materials in more general terms is based on lab tests and the certifications they have for harmful substances and VOCs so that you have some assurance than the VOCs are below the testing limits for the certification.
Most people that are looking for an âorganicâ mattress are usually concerned more with âsafetyâ than whether the materials have an actual organic certification. There is more information about the three different levels of organic certifications in post #2 here and some of the benefits of an organic certification in post #3 here and there is more about the different types of organic and safety certifications in post #2 here and more about some of the differences between organic and safety certifications in post #2 here and there are some comments in post #42 here that can help you decide whether an organic certification is important to you for environmental, social, or personal reasons or whether a âsafetyâ certification is enough.
All the latex you are likely to encounter (either Dunlop or Talalay that is made with either natural or synthetic rubber or a blend of both) will have a reliable certification such as Oeko-Tex, Eco-Institut, Greenguard Gold, or C2C and based on actual testing I would consider any type or blend of latex to be a very âsafeâ material in terms of harmful substances and VOCâs.
100% natural latex means that all the rubber used in the latex foam compounding formulation is natural rubber (vs synthetic rubber) but there are also small amounts of other substances used in the formulation to foam and manufacturer the latex. There is more about 100% natural latex in post #18 here).
There is also more about the different types and blends of latex in post #6 here.
Phoenix
Hi Phoenix,
Ok, I think Iâm catching on. The only thing in question about essentia natural claims is the top layer of foam. The other components of their mattress are what they claim. I just looked at the attacked docs on the tests. So the first two report are saying that there is no evidence of hevea milk, which essentia claim is the key ingredient, and there is evidence of mdi that on their chart, that you posted from their website, isnât checked off? The third report is saying that 97% of the foam is not natural and only 3% is natural? So it looks like they are possible lying which is certainly concerning. Itâs interesting that they donât defend themselves, on these forums, with proof of their claim instead of answers that donât have any validity. If my businessâs character was called into question I would definitely supply documented information to validate my claims for the benefit of current and future customers. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. Letâs say these tests arenât accurate and essentia isnât lying. Itâs hard to support them because you just donât know without them proving it. I guess Iâll scratch them off my list.
Thanks for all the info and posts. Do you have any post for best mattress material and firmness for lower back issues. I primarily sleep on my stomach, I know thatâs the worst position for your back, and sometimes my side. I know there are a lot of variables but something to get me started. Thanks again.
Hi Phoenix,
Ok, I think Iâm catching on. The only thing in question about essentia natural claims is the top layer of foam. The other components of their mattress are what they claim. I just looked at the attacked docs on the tests. So the first two report are saying that there is no evidence of hevea milk, which essentia claim is the key ingredient, and there is evidence of mdi that on their chart, that you posted from their website, isnât checked off? The third report is saying that 97% of the foam is not natural and only 3% is natural? So it looks like they are possible lying which is certainly concerning. Itâs interesting that they donât defend themselves, on these forums, with proof of their claim instead of answers that donât have any validity. If my businessâs character was called into question I would definitely supply documented information to validate my claims for the benefit of current and future customers. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. Letâs say these tests arenât accurate and essentia isnât lying. Itâs hard to support them because you just donât know without them proving it. I guess Iâll scratch them off my list.
Also, I saw you posted the FTC report but why donât the agencies that verify and certify organic and natural products go after companies that make false claims tomake it safer for consumers? Greenguard, GOTC, etc.
Thanks for all the info and posts. Do you have any post for best mattress material and firmness for lower back issues. I primarily sleep on my stomach, I know thatâs the worst position for your back, and sometimes my side. I know there are a lot of variables but something to get me started. Thanks again.
Hi Brent,
They did register on the forum and replied to some questions in a couple of posts (see posts #4 - #7 in this topic) but then they stopped posting any further replies or clarifications.
The biggest issues with Essentia are the misleading claims and information on their website along with the price of their mattresses compared to other mattresses that use a very similar 100% natural Dunlop support core with some additional foam comfort layers on top of it (either latex or memory foam). While I wouldnât dispute that they are using good quality and durable materials ⌠they are not as âspecialâ as they claim to be IMO and I would have have a difficult time justifying their prices relative to other mattresses that use similar materials that are in much lower budget ranges.
There are some recent indications that some certifying agencies are beginning to âenforceâ the use of their logos but they donât have any control over manufacturer claims that donât use their specific logos and the FTC doesnât seem to have either the money, the will, the manpower, or in some cases even the clear guidelines (for claims such as ânaturalâ or âgreenâ) that allow them to enforce claims except on a very limited basis or cases where there is clear and significant misrepesentation.
While it may be more information than you are looking for ⌠there is also a lot more information in post #2 here and the more detailed posts and information it links to about safe, natural, organic, âchemical freeâ, and âgreenâ mattresses and mattress materials that can help you sort through some of the marketing information and terminology that you will encounter in the industry and can help you differentiate between them and answer âhow safe is safe enough for meâ or âhow natural is natural enough for meâ and that can help you decide on the type of materials and components you are most comfortable having in your mattress or on the certifications that may be important to you. These types of issues are complex and are generally specific to each person and their individual sensitivities, circumstances, criteria, beliefs, and lifestyle choices.
While I can certainly help with âhowâ to choose ⌠Itâs not possible to make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or combinations of materials or components because the first âruleâ of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress. There are just too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components or which type of mattress would be the best âmatchâ for you in terms of âcomfortâ, firmness, or PPP or how a mattress will âfeelâ to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress), sleeping positions, health conditions, or âtheory at a distanceâ that can possibly be more reliable than your own careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial) or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).
Assuming that the materials in a mattress you are considering are durable enough for your body type and meet the quality/durability guidelines here relative to your weight range ⌠the choice between different types and combinations of materials and components or different types of mattresses are more of a preference and a budget choice than a âbetter/worseâ choice (see this article). The best way to know which type of materials or which type of mattresses you tend to prefer in general terms will be based on your own testing and personal experience because different people can have very different preferences.
Iâm not sure what youâve read since you found the site but just in case you havenât read it yet ⌠the first place to start your research is the mattress shopping tutorial here which includes all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice ⌠and perhaps more importantly know how and why to avoid the worst ones.
Two of the most important links in the tutorial that I would especially make sure youâve read are post #2 here which has more about the different ways to choose a suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best âmatchâ for you in terms of âcomfortâ, firmness, and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesnât turn out as well as you hoped for and post #13 here which has more about the most important parts of the âvalueâ of a mattress purchase which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well you will sleep), durability (how long you will sleep well), and the overall value of a mattress compared to your other finalists based on all the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you.
While itâs not possible to be specific ⌠in very general terms and based on âaveragesâ ⌠side sleepers tend to need a softer mattress because the body has more curves that need to be âfilled inâ to provide suitable support (such as the waist) and more âpointy partsâ (such as the hips and shoulders) that need to sink in more to relieve pressure when you are on your side and generally need thicker and softer upper layers that can contour to the shape of the body more effectively and more deeply. Back sleepers have less curves that need to be filled in (such as the small of the back or lumbar spine) and less âpointyâ pressure points and generally do best with a little bit firmer mattress that has either thinner or firmer comfort layers to reduce the risk of their pelvis sinking into the mattress too much which can put the spine out of alignment and cause lower back pain. Stomach sleepers have the flattest and least âcurvyâ sleeping profile of all and so they tend to need a firmer mattress yet with thinner and/or firmer comfort layers to reduce the risk of their pelvis sinking into the mattress too much and sleeping in a swayback position which can put considerable strain on the lower back and also lead to lower back pain. Stomach sleeping is the âriskiestâ sleeping position in terms of back and neck strain (the head is turned sideways which can strain the neck). Putting a thin pillow under the pelvis/lower abdomen may also help prevent stomach sleepers from sleeping in a swayback position.
Having said all that ⌠not everyone fits into the âaveragesâ so the only way to know whether any mattress is a good âmatchâ for you and how well you will sleep on it will be based on your own careful testing and/or your own personal experience when you sleep on it.
Phoenix
Thanks for all the great info here about the false claims and so on. Forgive me if itâs been stated in this thread already or in another thread but are there any discussions or answers about how toxic these MyEssentia mattresses are in reality and in what way?
It seems rather clear that these mattresses do off-gas to a noticable extent, as one poster mentioned a sweet vanilla smell which would appear to be toxic⌠Does anyone else have experience using these beds and what other smells are coming off them after long-term use?
I understand some tests have been done on the foam/rubber/latex or whatever mystery materials they use. I also understand the misleading and all that, but could I have the results of the tests explained to me in terms of toxicity as they relate to VOCs or whatever else the harmful aspect of these mattresses is?
Hi Wilson420,
The only reliable way to to assess the âsafetyâ of different materials in more general terms is based on lab tests and the certifications they have for harmful substances and VOCs so that you have some assurance than the VOCs are below the testing limits for the certification (see post #2 here for more information about some of the more reliable âsafetyâ certifications). If the materials in a mattress or the mattress itself has a reliable âsafetyâ certification then for most people they would certainly be âsafe enoughâ ⌠regardless of the type of material or the name of the manufacturer on the label.
The latex in the Essentia mattresses have an Oeko-Tex certification and the glue they use is Greenguard Gold certified but the memory foam they use doesnât have a specific certification. Having said that ⌠they did test one of their previous mattresses (the Classic Skinny) which contained 2" of their memory foam and according to their test results the testing would pass the Greenguard standards although they donât mention whether it would have passed the Greenguard Gold standard which is usually used for mattresses.
Assuming that the memory foam they are currently using is the same as the memory foam that was in the Classic Skinny I would consider their mattress to be âsafe enoughâ although they donât have an actual Greenguard or Greenguard Gold certification and it would be nice to see a more current certification that applied to their current mattresses so that their customers could have more confidence that their current memory foam has a certification that is normally used for mattress materials.
I would also keep in mind that the smell of a material isnât an indication of whether it is harmful or not because some harmful VOCâs have no smell at all and some VOCâs that are completely safe have a much stronger smell (such as natural rubber, natural wool, or even a rose).
The materials they use certainly arenât a mystery. Most of their mattresses use a base layer of 100% natural latex with comfort layers that are good quality/density memory foam (not latex).
Outside of the misleading information on their website ⌠the biggest issue with Essentia mattresses isnât âsafetyâ or durability but that their mattresses are in significantly higher price ranges than other mattresses that use similar types of materials that would also be âsafe enoughâ based on their certifications for harmful substances and VOCâsâŚ
Phoenix
Thanks for the explanation. Iâm cautious of memory foam because Iâve encountered some memory foams in the past where the smell of them actually made me dizzy and noxious so I would say that Iâm more sensitive than most people. Other people in the house didnât smell anything and yet I could smell the fumes coming off the foam even from another room. As you mentioned before, we all certainly have different sensitivities.
This thread is a great resource anyway for those who seek a wide variety of answers. What I gained is that there really isnât anything special about their ânatural memory foam.â I guess the confusing part is the fact that some people have stated that no, itâs not actually memory foam, itâs a type of latex foam that mimics memory foam. Either way itâs too confusing for me and Iâve lost confidence in the brand. I agree that they should market their products for what they actually are.
Hi Wilson420,
There are some lab test results of their so called ânatural memory foamâ in this post and the testing indicates that it doesnât contain latex or natural or âbio basedâ materials.
Phoenix
Hi Phoenix,
Thank you so much for your in depth info.
When I found out about claims of a natural memory foam , reading this thread turned me off any further research on that.