Somniveve Formula Capsules, 60

A melatonin-free evening capsule from Somniveve, in a minimal bottle designed to sit on a bedside table. The formula combines four ingredients: ashwagandha extract, L-theanine, magnesium L-threonate and 5-HTP. Sixty capsules per bottle, suitable for vegetarians, taken 30 to 60 minutes before bed. It is the one combined evening sleep supplement on our shelf; everything else here is a single ingredient.

Somniveve positions it as a sleep-only product and designs the bottle to feel more like skincare than a supplement: minimal, considered, and meant to be left out rather than hidden in a cupboard.

What it is

Most evening supplements in the UK are built around melatonin or a single herb. Somniveve's formula instead combines four ingredients that are each sold separately as evening supplements: an adaptogenic herb (ashwagandha), an amino acid from tea (L-theanine), a form of magnesium (L-threonate) and a precursor amino acid (5-HTP). The brand describes it as non-sedating and melatonin-free; we repeat the melatonin-free part as a plain fact about the ingredient list and make no claims about effects.

The brand's product page lists every active with its amount per capsule and no proprietary blend: 250 mg ashwagandha extract, 120 mg L-theanine, 350 mg magnesium L-threonate and 30 mg 5-HTP. Two capsules, the upper end of the brand's range, doubles each figure.

Each bottle is 60 capsules. At the brand's range of 1 to 2 capsules a night that is 30 to 60 nights. The capsules are suitable for vegetarians.

Somniveve is a UK sleep supplement brand. Herbastore stocks it as one of our third-party brands alongside Mushroom Dispensary, Pure Limitless and Easy Green CBD.

How to take it

Take 1 to 2 capsules daily, 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime, preferably after food, per the brand. Start with one capsule and increase to two if you choose. Attach it to something you already do in the evening, such as brushing your teeth or making a herbal tea, so it becomes routine.

• 60 capsules per bottle
• 1 to 2 capsules a night, 30 to 60 minutes before bed, preferably after food
• 30 to 60 nights per bottle depending on use
• £29.99 works out at 50p a capsule, so 50p to £1.00 a night

Store closed in a cool, dry place. The brand advises that the product is not suitable for children or for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and that anyone taking antidepressants or medication affecting serotonin levels should consult a healthcare professional before use. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle.

What's inside

• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract, 250 mg per capsule
• L-theanine, 120 mg per capsule
• Magnesium L-threonate, 350 mg per capsule
• 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), 30 mg per capsule
• Vegetarian capsule

Ashwagandha is a shrub whose root has long been used in Ayurvedic tradition; we stock it singly as capsules and gummies. L-theanine is an amino acid found naturally in tea leaves. Magnesium L-threonate is magnesium bound to threonic acid, a form that has become popular in evening supplements. 5-HTP is an amino acid the body makes from tryptophan, usually sourced for supplements from the seeds of the West African plant Griffonia simplicifolia.

Who it's for

People who want an evening supplement without melatonin and would rather take one combined capsule than three or four separate ones. It suits a bedside table, a bedtime routine built around a herbal tea or a book, and anyone who has been buying ashwagandha, magnesium and L-theanine separately. The design makes it an easy gift.

If you want ashwagandha on its own, our own-label capsules are the single-ingredient option. If you want an evening drink rather than a capsule, reishi is the traditional evening mushroom, and the Sleep aromatherapy roll-on is the topical option.

Pairs well with

The organic ashwagandha capsules are the single-ingredient version of the first ingredient. The Mushroom Dispensary reishi capsules are the traditional evening mushroom. The Sleep aromatherapy roll-on is the scent to go with a bedtime routine. Browse every capsule we stock under capsules, the herbal supplements shelf, and our new in collection.

Frequently asked questions

What is magnesium L-threonate?

Magnesium bound to threonic acid, a form of magnesium that has become common in evening supplements. It is one of the four ingredients here, at 350 mg per capsule.

What is L-theanine?

An amino acid found naturally in tea leaves, sold on its own as a supplement and included here at 120 mg per capsule.

What is 5-HTP?

5-hydroxytryptophan, an amino acid the body makes from tryptophan, usually sourced for supplements from Griffonia simplicifolia seeds. The brand advises anyone on antidepressants or serotonin-affecting medication to consult a professional before use because of it.

Does it contain melatonin?

No. The formula is melatonin-free, which is the brand's main point of difference.

Read our guide to ashwagandha for the first ingredient, and our label guide for how to read a combined formula's per-capsule amounts. Herbastore ships this product from the UK, with free UK shipping on orders over £40. Orders are packed by Herbastore UK, so if you are buying from more than one of our brands everything arrives together.