Essential oils in the sauna
What happens when the heat of the sauna meets a pure essential oil is something you only understand once you have experienced it. The air transforms, the scents envelop every breath, the mind goes quiet. A few drops are all it takes to turn a simple steam infusion into a ritual that engages body, mind and spirit. It is no coincidence that Nordic and Alpine cultures have made the scented aufguss a tradition spanning thousands of years.
Why essential oils in the sauna
The combination of heat and scent is not merely pleasant – it is a profound experience. The heat opens the pores, the steam carries the aromatic molecules directly to where they can be perceived best: with every breath. The Scandinavians, the Romans with their thermae, the Alpine communities with their wood-panelled rooms – all independently discovered the same thing: heat + aromatic plants = wellbeing.
In Finnish tradition, the "löyly" (the burst of steam on the stones) is almost a sacred act. In the Alpine region, the aufguss with Swiss stone pine oil has been part of wellness culture for generations. In both cases, pure natural essential oils are at the heart of the experience.
Six scents, six worlds
Every essential oil creates a different world inside the sauna cabin. The choice of scent fundamentally changes the character of the aufguss. Here are our favourites:
Eucalyptus
Fresh, camphoraceous, penetrating. Eucalyptus transforms the sauna into a forest after the rain. Every breath becomes deeper, more conscious. It is the world's most popular sauna oil for good reason – especially during the cold season, when the body craves warmth and clear air.
Swiss stone pine
Balsamic, warm, deeply Alpine. The scent of Swiss stone pine is the heart of Alpine wellbeing. In South Tyrol and Tyrol, people say that sleeping in stone pine wood changes the quality of rest. In the sauna, its woody, resinous notes create a mountain atmosphere that invites you to let go of every tension – as if you could simply shed the stress of everyday life.
Lavender
Sweet, herbal, enveloping. Lavender has always been the scent that accompanies the transition from wakefulness to rest. In Provence, it was placed under the pillow; in the sauna, it is used when you want the mind to finally stop racing. A lavender aufguss in the evening is like a gentle invitation to close your eyes and let the day go.
Peppermint
Intensely fresh, menthol, electrifying. A peppermint aufguss wakes up the entire body. The skin feels a pleasant coolness even in the heat, the senses sharpen, fatigue seems to vanish. Ideal for those who go to the sauna in the morning or want to recharge in the afternoon.
Litsea Cubeba
Exotic, zesty-citrus, surprising. This oil from Southeast Asia smells of fresh lemon with a hint of lemongrass. In Asia, it is traditionally associated with good mood and lightness. In the sauna it brings a bright, unexpected note – first-timers are always surprised. A true discovery beyond the classics.
Lemon
Fresh, sunny, Mediterranean. One lemon aufguss and it feels like holiday. The air becomes light, the mood lifts, thoughts clear. The scent of lemon is like a sunny day in a bottle – ideal when it is grey outside and you need some light inside.
How to do the perfect aufguss
Dosage
Pure essential oils are highly concentrated – and highly potent. 5-10 drops per litre of water is enough. If you are new to scented infusions, start with 5 drops and decide from there. A well-dosed scent envelops gently; too much becomes unpleasant.
Step by step
The golden rule: never pour undiluted oil onto the hot stones. Here is how to do it properly:
- First pour 2-3 ladles of plain water onto the stones – this lowers the temperature slightly and creates the initial steam
- In a ladle of water, add the drops of essential oil
- Pour the scented water onto the stones
- Use a towel to move the air and distribute the aromatic steam throughout the cabin
The moment when the scented steam rises from the stones and fills the cabin – that is the heart of the aufguss. Enjoy it.
Scent combinations that work
Mixing two or three oils creates entirely new experiences:
- Alpine forest: Swiss stone pine + fir + a touch of lemon – like a walk through a mountain forest
- Nordic freshness: Eucalyptus + lemon – clear air and alert senses
- Winter evening: Lavender + sweet orange – the scent of letting go
- Exotic awakening: Litsea Cubeba + peppermint – energy and good mood
Safety and practical tips
- Never undiluted oil on the stones: Essential oil can ignite on contact with the hot stones. Always dilute in water first.
- Storage: Do not leave oil bottles in the hot sauna. Heat alters the oil's quality. Store outside the cabin, away from light.
- Less is more: You can always add another drop, but you cannot remove an overly strong scent. Start with less.
- Listen to your body: If a scent is too intense, ventilate briefly. The aufguss should be a pleasure, not an ordeal.
- Only pure oils: In the sauna, never use synthetic fragrance oils or perfume oils. Only 100% pure, natural essential oils.
Why quality makes all the difference
In the sauna, heat transforms the essential oil into steam that is deeply inhaled with every breath. What goes onto the infusion water literally ends up in the lungs. That is why purity is not a luxury – it is a necessity.
A certified organic, 100% pure essential oil contains exclusively what the plant naturally produces – nothing added, nothing removed. Synthetic oils can imitate the surface scent, but they lack the complexity and depth of the natural product. And in a hot environment like the sauna, every impurity is amplified.
You can tell the difference: pure natural oils have a rounder, deeper, more "real" scent. And fewer drops are needed to fill the entire cabin.
Our essential oils for the sauna
All our essential oils are organically certified and 100% pure and natural. We select them with care, test them personally and use them ourselves – including in the sauna. If it is in our shop, it is because we truly believe in it.
Discover essential oilsSouth Tyrolean family business since 1989. We use them ourselves, every day.