Steam is the foundation of a good sauna
In Finnish sauna tradition, more than anything else, löyly (steam) defines the whole sauna experience. That is why it is taken very seriously. Löyly is not just the heat and steam rising from the stones but a combination of the warmth, ease of breathing, and the atmosphere as a whole. If löyly is a flop, the whole sauna experience can be ruined.
There are several words that do not have direct equivalents in other languages, such as Wanderlust, fika or l’esprit d’escalier. A deeply rooted word like löyly definitely fits into this group. In English, it is often translated – slightly erroneously – into steam. Technically, it is correct, but it is missing certain associations, ambiance, and hundreds of years’ worth of history. When you say steam, it can refer to the steam rising from a boiling tea kettle, a warm bath, or even a very angry, red-faced person.
But löyly is always connected to the sauna.
More than steam
In Finnish, besides the steam, warmth and ambiance, löyly can also be the water that is thrown on the sauna heater. Saying “Heitä löylyä.” is a request for more water on the stones. In English, it would be difficult to explain how you would throw steam on the heater.
So, for Finns, the quality of the steam is at the heart of the whole sauna experience – starting with the name itself. And if, upon leaving the sauna, the bather exclaims “Olipa hyvät löylyt!” (literally “What a great steam!”) you know the experience was successful.
The source of happiness
This year’s theme at the World Sauna Forum organized by Sauna from Finland is ‘Happiness’. For the ninth year in a row, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world, and the importance of sauna as a source of joy for the world’s happiest people should not be undermined. Good steam after a busy day or a workout invites the bather to slow down and helps the body and mind to recover. In Finnish sauna culture, happiness is built on this type of simple and quiet presence, not on achievements or performances. Roles, titles, and stress are all left outside the sauna door, and everyone sits on the sauna benches as equals, no matter their age, status, or background.
But a good steam is no accident. Instead, it is a careful balance of several things. The size of the sauna heater, the amount of stones and how they are stacked, how much and how often water is thrown, as well as the air circulation in the sauna all have an effect on the success of the steam. Balanced, soft, and controlled steam feels pleasant and gives the body time to adjust to the heat, breathing is easy, and the warmth spreads evenly throughout your whole body.
Seeking better steam
For Mondex, good löyly also means peace of mind. From the very beginning, our purpose has been to offer abundant and long-lasting steam with each of our sauna heaters. We invented the original soapstone heaters that brought something new to the Finnish sauna market: gentle, oxygen-rich steam, thanks to the large soapstone surface that heats efficiently and lets water spread and evaporate evenly, helping create a calm and balanced sauna experience.
This thinking is carried through our entire range and comes together most clearly in Rakka, an electric heater with steam that is as good as in a traditional wood-burning heater. With its distinctive look and patented, casing-free structure, you can throw water on it from any direction and always get a strong, long and moist steam. At the heart of it all is creating a balanced, long-lasting steam by combining the traditional Finnish sauna culture with modern technology, and through sustainable manufacturing, timeless design, and long-lasting, high-quality products, the sauna can be enjoyed for a long time without the need to replace the heater every few years. This kind of ease is what makes good steam – and the sauna itself – a central part of the well-being and happiness of the Finnish people.
The article was written in collaboration with our member company Mondex.
