6 essential oil blends for the sauna
Mixing two or three essential oils for the aufguss opens up a world of sensory experiences. Here you'll find the 6 blends we use ourselves at home, with the exact dosages and the ideal moments to try them. All built with 100 % pure organic essential oils.
The recipes below are designed for 1 ladle (~200 ml) of water per aufguss. If you prepare directly in the bucket (1 liter), multiply the drops by 4–5. Before you start, read our guide to the perfect aufguss and the guide to essential oils in the sauna.
How to build a harmonious blend
A well-made blend follows the same logic as a good perfume. Three families of notes that chase each other through time:
🍋 Top notes
Citrus, fresh, light. They're perceived first but fade quickly. E.g. lemon, sweet orange, litsea cubeba.
🌿 Heart notes
Herbaceous, floral, balsamic. They're the soul of the blend. E.g. lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus.
🌲 Base notes
Woody, resinous, persistent. They stay long in the air. E.g. stone pine, silver fir, alpine conifers.
Our 6 favorite blends
1. Alpine Forest 🌲
Ideal moment: after a long hike, in winter, when you want the feel of a mountain forest.
Our signature blend – the one that recalls the forests above Lana. Three alpine conifers fusing into a deeply warm, balsamic atmosphere rooted in South Tyrolean tradition.
- Stone pine – 2 drops
- Silver fir – 1 drop
- Lemon – 1 drop (the top note that opens the blend)
Aroma: warm, resinous, with a citrus accent that lightens. Persistence: very long, thanks to the woody base notes.
2. Nordic Freshness ❄️
Ideal moment: morning or afternoon aufguss, when you need clean air and sharp senses.
Two ingredients, immediate effect. Eucalyptus opens the breath, lemon adds a Mediterranean note that softens eucalyptus's austerity. The most "energetic" blend in our selection.
- Eucalyptus – 2 drops
- Lemon – 2 drops
Aroma: fresh, camphoraceous, Mediterranean. Persistence: medium – ideal for intense, short aufguss sessions.
3. Winter Evening 🌙
Ideal moment: the last aufguss of the evening, when you want to relax and prepare for rest.
The blend of "letting go". Lavender and sweet orange are the classic European combination for evening wellbeing. In the sauna they create a calm, enveloping, almost suspended atmosphere.
- Lavender – 3 drops
- Sweet orange – 2 drops
Aroma: floral-citrus, sweet, enveloping. Persistence: long, thanks to the lavender.
4. Exotic Awakening 🌏
Ideal moment: midday aufguss, after lunch, when you need an energy boost.
A surprising blend: litsea cubeba (from Southeast Asia) brings an unusual citrus note, peppermint reinforces it with pungent freshness. Our "anti-afternoon-slump" blend.
- Litsea cubeba – 2 drops
- Peppermint – 1 drop (caution: peppermint is potent)
Aroma: exotic, citrus, menthol. Persistence: medium. Caution: peppermint can be irritating in high doses; don't exceed 1 drop.
5. South Tyrolean Stube 🏔️
Ideal moment: evening aufguss, when you want to recreate the atmosphere of an ancient alpine Stube.
For lovers of South Tyrolean mountain home atmospheres. Stone pine brings the warmth of Stube wood, lavender softens the robustness with a sweet note. A seemingly strange but actually beautiful combination.
- Stone pine – 3 drops
- Lavender – 2 drops
Aroma: woody and floral together, deep, evocative. Persistence: very long.
6. Mediterranean Morning ☀️
Ideal moment: first aufguss of the morning, to start on the right foot.
Holiday vibes, breakfast on the terrace with a sea view. Three citrus-menthol notes that wake the body gently, without the harshness of pure eucalyptus. An "easy" blend, also for those who don't love overly intense scents.
- Lemon – 2 drops
- Sweet orange – 1 drop
- Peppermint – 1 drop
Aroma: citrus-menthol, sunny, light. Persistence: short – ideal for quick aufguss sessions.
Summary table of the 6 blends
Tips for experimenting with your own blends
- Always start with little. Better to add one more drop at the second aufguss than to find yourself with an aroma that's too strong and have to bear it.
- Respect the rule: top + heart + base. The best blends balance all three note types. Without base notes, the aroma fades quickly; without top notes, it feels heavy.
- Write them down. When you find a blend you particularly like, jot down the proportions. The exact combination is easy to forget.
- Season and mood matter. In summer, fresh blends (lemon, peppermint). In winter, warm ones (stone pine, lavender). Citrus in the morning, floral in the evening.
- Avoid more than 3 oils per blend. Beyond 3 ingredients, the aroma becomes confused. Three is the golden number.
FAQ about sauna blends
Can I prepare a blend in advance?
Yes, but cautiously. You can pre-mix the pure essential oils in a small dark glass bottle (e.g. 5 ml) and store it cool. Then you dose this "blend" at the moment of the aufguss instead of the individual oils. Don't add water in advance: aromatic water is only prepared at the moment.
Which blend is best for sleeping well after the sauna?
The blends "Winter Evening" (lavender + sweet orange) and "South Tyrolean Stube" (stone pine + lavender) are designed precisely for evening sessions, because they create a calm, enveloping atmosphere. Lavender has always been associated with rest in European tradition.
Can I create my own personal blends?
Absolutely – aromatherapy is also experimentation. Start from our recipes as a base, then modify one drop at a time. Keep a small notebook for your favorite formulas. Always respect the limit of a maximum of 10 total drops per liter of water.
Are Viworo blends sold ready-made?
No, we don't sell ready-made blends. We prefer that our customers purchase the individual 100 % pure essential oils and create their blends on the spot, following the recipes above. That way you always control what goes into the aufguss, and you can adjust proportions to your taste.
Which blend do you recommend for beginners?
The "Nordic Freshness" (eucalyptus + lemon) is the most "classic" and safest to start with: two ingredients, recognizable aroma, immediate effect. If you prefer something more alpine, start with the "Alpine Forest".
All oils for your blends
All our essential oils are organic certified and 100 % pure. We select them personally, test them batch by batch, use them ourselves – including in the sauna.
Discover all essential oilsSouth Tyrolean family business since 1989. We use them ourselves, every day.