Gifts for sauna lovers

Good gifts for sauna lovers are things that actually get used in the sauna: a quality sauna infusion, a proper ladle, a felt sauna hat or a large sauna towel. Before you buy, it is worth asking one question: does the person have their own sauna, or do they go to a public spa? The answer decides which idea fits.

This guide sorts the usual sauna gift ideas by situation and budget. It also tells you what you can safely skip.

First, find out: home sauna or public spa?

People with a home sauna, whether in the basement, in the garden or as a barrel sauna, look after their own equipment and add to it over time. Infusions, accessories around the heater and anything that makes sauna sessions at home more pleasant all fit here.

People who go to public saunas and thermal baths get their infusions from the sauna master. For them, things they can take along work better: a large sauna towel, a bathrobe, bathing shoes, a bag for wet things or a sauna hat.

If you don't know, ask casually or check with someone close to them. The answer gives nothing away about the gift, and it saves you a wrong purchase.

Sauna infusion and scent: the gift that gets used

Anyone who uses a sauna at home pours water on the stones. Infusion products are used up regularly, and many home sauna owners stick out of habit with the first product they found on the drugstore shelf. A good sauna infusion in a new scent is therefore one of the few gifts people rarely have twice.

How to recognise a good sauna infusion

You can check a few points in the online shop or on the label:

• The bottle states how much concentrate goes into one litre of water. According to a study by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), manufacturers' recommendations range from 4 to 30 ml per litre.
• The fragrances are named. "With essential oils" tells you more than "fragrance oil" or "aroma".
• You can work out how far a bottle goes. At 10 ml per litre, 333 ml of concentrate makes about 33 litres of infusion water. A sauna ladle usually holds no more than 0.2 litres, and the heater manufacturer Harvia gives this amount as the upper limit per throw. A bottle like this is enough for over 200 ladles.
• Hazard statements on the label are mandatory for concentrates containing essential oils and alcohol. They are not a bad sign. They show that the manufacturer knows its obligations.

Which scent suits whom

Scent is a matter of taste. A few pointers still help:

• If they like it clear and cool, eucalyptus, mint, menthol and pine are a safe choice. These are the best-known sauna scents of all.
• If they like it fresh but rounder, go for citrus with herbs or green tea.
• If they mostly use the sauna in the evening, they often like warmer combinations of orange, lemon, lavender and lemon balm.

If you are unsure, give several scents. Then the person can choose for themselves, depending on the time of day and their mood.

Our three infusions follow exactly these directions: Larimar Breeze is clear and cool, Verdelite Uplift herbal and fresh, Obsidian Glow warm and meant for the evening. In the set, each bottle comes with a hand-drilled Slow Steam Stone made of volcanic diabase from Finland, refined in Bavaria. You use the ladle to pour the diluted infusion water from the bucket into its hole.

One more note: people with a fragrance allergy should avoid scented infusions, as the German consumer organisation Stiftung Warentest points out. If you know this about the person, choose an accessory instead.

Accessories for the home sauna

A new sauna often comes with a basic starter kit. After a few years, the ladle is scorched, the bucket leaks and the thermometer is inaccurate. Better-quality replacements please almost every owner.

• On an infusion ladle, a long handle keeps your hand away from the hot steam. Stainless steel or copper with a wooden handle lasts longer than plastic.
• Wooden buckets need an insert to stay watertight. Buckets made of stainless steel or copper are easier to care for.
• A 15-minute sand timer shows the time without anyone having to look at a phone.
• A thermometer and hygrometer show the temperature and humidity in the cabin. Useful for home saunas without a digital display.
• A wool felt sauna hat keeps the heat off your head, where it is highest at the top of the cabin.
• A sauna towel should be large enough to lie on completely. Linen and waffle piqué dry faster than thick terry cloth.

Sauna stones only make a good gift if you know the heater model, the type of stone and the stone size. Otherwise they may well not fit.

When the sauna has only just arrived

New sauna owners are in a different situation. They often don't yet have a feel for how much infusion makes sense, how hot they like the cabin and how long a session lasts. A gift that helps them get started fits well here: ladle, bucket and sand timer as basic equipment, plus an infusion with clear instructions.

In that case, avoid two things: a concentrate without dosage instructions and accessories that don't suit the heater. A look at the heater's manual or a quick question to a specialist dealer will tell you which ladle size and which stones are intended. With a new sauna, manufacturers also state that no water should be thrown on the stones during the very first heat-up. The first infusion together is therefore a nice moment to hand over the gift.

Gifts for sauna lovers by budget

Up to about 50 €, a felt sauna hat, a sand timer, a wooden ladle, a thermometer or a single infusion concentrate all work.

Between 50 and 120 €, consider a metal ladle and bucket as a set, a linen sauna towel or a quality infusion in a gift box.

Above 120 €, a scent set with several infusions, a bathrobe in linen or waffle piqué, or a sauna day together on a fixed date rather than an undated voucher are good options.

What you can skip

• Cheap sets with a plastic ladle and three sample bottles. They usually end up in the cupboard.
• Pure essential oils without instructions. They never go neat onto the hot heater. A sauna needs an infusion product with dosage instructions that is diluted in water.
• Scented candles, room sprays and diffusers for the cabin. Harvia states in its manuals that only fragrances made for sauna water may be used. Open flames have no place in the cabin anyway.
• Novelty items with slogans. They get a laugh when unwrapped and are in the way afterwards.

Wrapping and giving

An infusion makes a good gift with a short note: how much concentrate goes into one litre and how many ladles are enough per infusion. Our guide How to make a sauna infusion explains it step by step. If you like, add an invitation to your first sauna evening together.

For Christmas: order in good time. Within Germany our parcels take two to five working days, to Switzerland five to ten.

If you want to know why scents influence mood and memory so directly, read more in the article The emotional code of scent.

Frequently asked questions

What do you give someone who loves the sauna?

Ideally something that gets used in the sauna. For home sauna owners, that means a quality infusion, a good ladle, a sand timer or a sauna hat. People who go to a public spa are more likely to appreciate a large sauna towel, a bathrobe or a bag for wet things.

What do you give a sauna fan who already has everything?

Consumables and upgrades. An infusion in a scent the person doesn't know yet brings variety to a familiar ritual. A better-quality ladle or bucket often replaces a worn-out starter kit, too.

Is a sauna infusion a good gift?

Yes, for people with their own sauna, because it gets used up regularly. Look for clear dosage instructions and named fragrances. For people who visit public spas, an infusion fits less well, because the sauna master does the infusions there.

What belongs in a sauna gift set?

A sensible set combines one or more infusions with accessories that are actually needed: a ladle, a sauna hat or a sauna towel. A few good pieces are better than lots of small sample bottles.