There's one thing we say more often than anything else: mix the essential oil in water first.
Never put concentrated essential oil directly on hot stones. The oil can burn off in seconds, creating a sharp, scorched smell. That's the entire rule, and it's worth reading twice.
The rest of this text is about what happens when you do it right.
What Aufguss Actually Is
Aufguss is not just steam with essential oil added. It's a session where an aufguss master pours water over the stones in a specific rhythm and distributes the heat and steam in the room with a towel. A round builds up. It has a beginning and an end.
The word is German, but in Norway, aufguss has truly gained a foothold in recent years, as the sauna has moved out of the basement and down to the sea.
You don't need an aufguss master to use essential oils in the sauna. But it helps to know what you're doing.
Why Oil Choice Matters in the Sauna
Essential oils are experienced differently in a hot sauna than in a home diffuser.
Heat, steam, dosage, and ventilation affect how the oil is perceived in the room. Therefore, it's worth choosing oil with the sauna in mind, and starting gently.
We carry essential oils from Aromen and are the official Norwegian distributor. We do not stock their entire range. We select the oils we believe work well in saunas and aufguss, and leave the rest.
How to Dose
Start weak. It's easier to add than to subtract.
A simple method is to put a few drops in a full ladle of water, stir, and pour it over the stones in several small increments instead of one large one. This way, you can gradually build the round and gauge whether the intensity is right as you go.
How much is "right" depends on the size of the sauna, how well it's ventilated, which oil you're using, and how intense you want the round to be. There isn't one number that fits all rooms.
Also, check what applies to your stove. Some stoves should not have water poured on the stones.
Which Oil Should You Start With?
This is the categorization we use ourselves when someone asks.
When you want a fresh and green round. Eucalyptus is a classic in the sauna. Eucalyptus Smithii is the mildest of the eucalyptus oils we carry. Fresh and green without overpowering the room. It's what we recommend to first-time buyers.
When you want to lean the round towards the forest. Mountain Pine is woody, green, and resinous. A good choice when you want to build a calmer, more forest-like round.
When you want something warmer and softer. Red Mandarin is sweet and warm, offering a completely different character than eucalyptus and pine. Nice on its own, and an easy place to start with citrus in the sauna.
There is no single right choice. But there are good places to start, and for most people, Eucalyptus Smithii is a safe first encounter with essential oils in the sauna.
The Most Common Mistakes
Too much, too soon. The most common mistake. The round becomes sharp and intense before it's had a chance to build up.
Concentrated oil on the stones. Said before, said again.
Not being considerate. If there are several of you in the sauna, ask before using oil. Some prefer a clean round with just heat, water, and steam. Others might react to strong aromatic oils. Start gently, and let the room help decide.
Forgetting to ventilate. Ventilate between rounds when the room needs it. Fresh air provides a better starting point for the next round.
How Long Does a Bottle Last?
Our bottles are 11 ml. That sounds small, but you only use a few drops at a time because the oil is mixed in water before going onto the stones.
How long a bottle lasts depends on how often you sauna, how many rounds you do, and how strongly you dose. Rather, start cautiously. A good round doesn't need much oil to set the character in the room.
If You Want to Start Somewhere
Aufguss Starter Kit consists of three essential oils selected for saunas: Eucalyptus Smithii, Mountain Pine, and Red Mandarin, along with linen bags. They give you three distinctly different starting points for getting to know oils in the sauna.
If you only want to try one, start with Eucalyptus Smithii.
