It’s ok to ask: What is a duvet?

A duvet is a comforter or quilt that is filled with down, wool, silk or polyfill. It’s what slips inside a duvet cover, and it’s what goes on top of you in bed. Usually, in the U.S., a flat sheet is between you and the duvet. European style sleeping is to have the duvet (always in its cover, for protection) directly on top of you as you sleep.

Down is the world’s first choice for perfect sleep. Not only is light (in terms of weight), but the natural insulating and breathing properties of down help it regulate an ideal sleep temperature.

Air is what allows the down to insulate. The finer the down (and therefore more expensive), the more it lofts, or “puffs up”, the more air it “holds”, and the lighter and warmer the duvet. This is called fill-power; fill-powers range from about 500, to 1,000.

Another element of quality, and therefore price, is the ticking, or cover. It should always be a natural fiber, it should be lightweight, and it should have a tight enough weave that the down doesn’t “leak” through. Our recommendation is a lightweight cotton sateen or batiste, or silk.

Down duvets require very little care, with only a handful of caveats. First, always keep a cover on it. Second, don’t regularly lie or sit on top of it. Third, give it some sunshine and air every few months. Fourth, while all down can be laundered at home (making sure it’s completely dry is the real trick), professional cleaning is recommended, and should happen only every few years.

As you contemplate further investment in your perfect sleep, here’s our lineup, starting at the top:

EUROPA:

• 1,000 fill power, hand-sorted Polish white goose down
• 400 thread count German cotton jacquard ticking (cover)
• Baffled box construction
• Hypoallergenic
• Made in Canada

ST. LAWRENCE:

• 900 fill power, free range Saskatchewan Canadian goose down
• German Tencel / Cotton batiste ticking (cover)
• Baffled box construction
• Hypoallergenic
• Made in Canada

LAJORD:

• 850 fill power, Canadian white goose down
• 380 thread-count all natural cotton sateen ticking (cover)
• Baffled box construction
• Hypoallergenic
• Made in Canada

HEIRLOOM:

• 600 fill power, Canadian white goose down
• 380 thread-count cotton sateen ticking (cover)
• Baffled box construction
• Hypoallergenic
• Made in Canada