The scent of warm wood and birch is a big part of the sauna experience. With a few drops of oil or a birch whisk you can make it even better. Here's how.
Essential oils in the ladle
Add two or three drops of essential oil to a ladle of water and pour it over the stones. The scent rises with the steam. Never pour oil straight onto the stones – it can burn and smells harsh.
- Eucalyptus – fresh and easy to breathe.
- Birch – the classic Finnish sauna scent.
- Pine and spruce – forest and resin.
- Mint – cooling, good in a hot sauna.
- Citrus – fresh and invigorating.
The birch whisk – vihta
In Finland, a bundle of birch twigs – a vihta or vasta – is used to gently beat the skin in the heat. It sounds odd but feels great: it boosts the sense of heat and releases a wonderful scent of birch leaves.
Soak the whisk in lukewarm water for a while first. Fresh whisks are made in early summer, but dried ones work all year after soaking.
Löyly – the art of throwing water
Löyly is the steam that rises when water hits the stones. Pour one ladle at a time, evenly over the stones, and wait for the steam to settle before the next. Ask the others first – the steam gets hot fast.
Scents at Sjöbastun
On the raft there are essential oils you are free to use. Add a few drops to the ladle before pouring the water on the stones. You're welcome to bring your own birch whisk too.
