How to add scent safely to the sauna

Our Approach to Scent in the Sauna

In our sauna, we’ve made a conscious decision not to use essential oils directly on the stones. Through experience, we’ve found that in a small 8-seater sauna, oils poured onto hot stones can be overpowering and often irritating to the eyes and airways. The heat and close proximity intensify the vapour too quickly, which can detract from relaxation rather than enhance it.

Instead, we use a more gentle, natural and considered method of introducing scent.

Natural Scent Bags – A Softer, More Personal Experience

We create hand-filled natural scent bags using salt combined with pure essential oils or natural plant scents. This allows fragrance to release slowly and subtly into the space, creating a balanced atmosphere that works far better in a smaller sauna.

Many of the scents we use come directly from our surroundings:

• Home-grown lavender
• Eucalyptus from trees we’ve planted
• Mint, rosemary and sage grown naturally

This connection to the land brings an added sense of calm and authenticity to the sauna experience.

Why This Works Best in a Small Sauna

For an 8-seater sauna, scent needs to be:

• Controlled – not overwhelming
• Evenly dispersed – without sudden bursts of vapour
• Comfortable for everyone – including those sensitive to strong aromas

Salt scent bags gently warm and release fragrance without spiking the air, keeping the space soothing and breathable for all bathers.

Thoughtful, Sustainable & Reusable

Our salt bags are not only effective, but also sustainable:

• Once the scent has evaporated, the bags can be washed and reused
• Salt naturally helps clean the washing machine
• We simply refill the bags with fresh salt and re-add essences

This low-waste cycle aligns with our values of simplicity and care.

A More Interactive & Personal Touch

Another lovely aspect of the salt bags is how hands-on and personal they can be:

• They can be gently squeezed, acting like a small stress-relief tool
• Guests can engage with scent at their own pace
• We offer a small selection of core scents, and where possible, we take time to learn a little about each bather and recommend the scent best suited to them — whether calming, grounding or uplifting

Our Philosophy

For us, scent in the sauna should support the experience, not dominate it.

This approach allows us to create a space that feels:

• Calm rather than intense
• Natural rather than synthetic
• Personal rather than one-size-fits-all

It’s a method that works beautifully for our sauna size, our environment, and the way we care for our guests.