Sauna Monthly

Field Notes

Sauna aromatherapy: how löyly and scent shape a session

Steam off the stones is the heart of the sauna, and tradition tunes it with scent. We explain how to use birch, eucalyptus and pine safely and why ritual sustains the habit.

By Adam Bognar, Editor

Published Jul 1, 2026Updated Sep 29, 20264 min read

Amber essential oil bottles surrounded by dried herbs on a white surface

Löyly is the burst of steam when water hits the hot stones, and it's the heart of a session. A few drops of scent in the bucket water tune it. Wellbeing and relaxation are the most consistently reported effects of regular sauna bathing in the research we've read. A session's sensory craft is much of why people keep the habit.

Scent belongs in the bucket water

Don't pour undiluted essential oil directly onto hot stones, since it can flash and smoke and even ignite. Mix a few drops into your bucket water, or use a capful of a proper sauna scent concentrate, and ladle onto the stones as usual. Birch and eucalyptus are the classic Nordic choices, and pine leans woodland.

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A 10 ml Plant Therapy Eucalyptus Globulus bottle lying on its side next to its cap on a sage-green backdrop
A 30 ml Plant Therapy Eucalyptus Globulus bottle standing on a sage-green backdrop
A 100 ml Plant Therapy Eucalyptus Globulus bottle standing on a sage-green backdrop
Back label of the 10 ml Plant Therapy Eucalyptus Globulus bottle beside the green cap top

Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil. Plant Therapy photography.

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A birch whisk releases scent into the steam

The vihta (Finnish) or venik (Russian) is a bundle of birch branches tied and soaked in warm water, and bathers use it to whisk the skin gently between rounds. Whisking stimulates circulation and releases fresh birch aroma into the steam. The whisk dates back about as far as the sauna.

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Common questions

Can I put essential oil directly on sauna stones?
No. Neat essential oil on hot sauna stones can flash and smoke, and it's a fire risk. Dilute a few drops in the water bucket first, or use a capful of dedicated sauna scent, then ladle that onto the stones.

Sources

  1. 1.Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018.
  2. 2.Cardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing: A Review of the Evidence. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2018.

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