Authentic sauna experience in Finland and internationally
Finns are especially well-known for three things: snow, the Finnish spirit (sisu) and sauna. It’s no wonder then that one of these made it to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in 2020. The addition was, of course, the sauna. This truly shows what an integral part of the Finnish culture and everyday life it is.
For hundreds of years, sauna has been a self-evident part of life for the Finnish people from birth to death. It was the place to rinse off the day’s dust, where children were born, and where loved ones were washed for their final journey. Even the sauna etiquette that guides how one should behave in a sauna, when they should cool off and with whom they should go to the sauna is part of the Finnish upbringing just like any other daily activity.
Even though sauna is an extremely important part of the Finnish culture and our everyday lives, we do not stop and think about its meaning too often. For Finns, it is self-evident to go to sauna often, and that often each flat has their own sauna or that there is a common sauna in the basement of the apartment building for all residents to use. Most of us go to sauna weekly, some of us every day. Even today, there are areas where the sauna is the only place you can get clean in, and it might be the oldest building on the property, even older than the main house.
The sauna also has a role in Kalevala, the Finnish national epic, which serves as inspiration for certain events even today. One of these is the bridal sauna often organized for bachelorette parties, where the bride is bathed before the wedding and given instructions for a successful marriage. Mondex heaters carry the Kalevala tradition and the millennium-old spirit of sauna in their names. For example, Ahti, Ukko, Hiisi and Louhi are directly related to the Finnish mythology. In Kalevala, Ahti is the spirit or god of water, and the soapstone heater carrying his name is known for its moist steam. The Mondex Ukko heater has been named after Kalevala’s supreme god, and the even and strong heat it gives fits perfectly to the prestige of its namesake.
The heater named after a holy place in Finnish traditional religion brings a sprinkle of mythical power into a modern sauna. Mondex Hiisi heats up throughout its entire length offering very moist and oxygen-rich steam, and its black granite combined with the Finnish soapstone emphasizes the ritualistic atmosphere of the sauna. Mondex Louhi, the sister heater of Hiisi, in its turn embodies the power and dignity of Kalevala’s mistress of the North. Its soapstone surface stores heat for long and gives out soft steam that is a perfect way to calm the mind and body after a busy day.
In addition to upholding traditions, sauna has an important role in maintaining the health of the Finnish people, both physical and mental. Regularly going to sauna improves blood pressure, cleanses the skin, and calms the mind. And if you are interested in cupping therapy, it is still often carried out in a sauna. Because the air in a sauna is more moist and easier to breathe, many Finns enjoy the oxygen-rich steam especially during the flu season.
Globally, going to sauna has become a part of a growing wellness trend that emphasizes its importance in a more holistic idea of wellbeing. Even though there are differences with the original, quintessentially Finnish sauna culture, the Finnish idea of sauna as a ritualistic, almost holy place for cleaning the body and mind is present in saunas around the world.
Mondex combines these two points of view by bringing the Finnish sauna culture to the international sauna market and acting as a messenger for the Finnish way of going to sauna – without forgetting the special features of different sauna cultures. For us, there is no one, right way to go to sauna. We tell stories about Finnishness, give tips and share knowledge about sauna as a place for recovery and cleanliness for everyone interested.
From the revolution of soapstone heaters to smart sauna technology
Mondex’s journey began in Kokkola, Finland in 1992. From the start, our heaters have been centered around being Finnish, user-friendly, and an essential part of any sauna. For us, sauna is not just a warm place but a part of a bigger whole that combines being together with other people, honoring traditions, and taking care of your body. The heater has a central role in this: it defines everything from the design of the sauna to the nature of the steam. The heater for us is the soul of the sauna, and its most important task is to be a trusted servant to the bather year after year.
Our first heaters were soft-steamed soapstone heaters that revolutionized the Finnish sauna market. The soapstone surface covering the front gives oxygen-rich and soft steam every time. Today, modern smart heaters are an important part of our catalogue in addition to traditional, mechanical heaters, and almost all our heaters can be bought with traditional controls, with a remote controller, or they can be used from a web app on your phone. The app allows you to set a timer for the sauna, track the status of the heater, its energy consumption and the temperature of the sauna, as well as write down notes about your sauna sessions. It even notifies you when it is time to change the sauna stones.
We manufacture all our heaters and stone radiators at our factory in Ylivieska, Finland, and each of them shows the over 30-year-old tradition, the quality of Finnish design and expert craftsmanship. Because all our heaters are designed, manufactured, and assembled in the same place, the production process is transparent and quality control efficient. In the beginning of 2022, we merged into Oy Darekon Ltd, and now we have a stable, international corporation behind us that employes hundreds of people across Northern Europe.
Heaters for different types of sauna goers and stone radiators for safe warmth
Some of the most popular and well-known heaters in our catalogue are floor heaters like the sturdy Tahko, wall heaters like the energy-efficient Teno, and the arresting Rakka, that makes the sauna stones the center of the attention. Tahko’s advantage is its versatile steam: you can throw water directly on top of the heater or against its sides and get a different steam every time. The space-efficient Teno is a good fit for smaller saunas and heats up quickly thanks to its spiral resistors. The crown jewel of our catalogue is the impressive design heater Rakka, which has a patented, casing-free structure that allows for a strong, long and moist steam – just like with a wood heater.
Our selection also includes stylish, safe and quiet stone radiators that are perfect for any home or public space. The surface temperature of the stone is lower than in regular radiators making it safer and more comfortable to use.
Mondex’s growing role in creating the authentic sauna experience
At the moment, we are expanding especially to Northern and Central Europe, and as a member of Sauna from Finland act to promote the authentic Finnish sauna experience across the globe. Our passion is to bring the soul of the Finnish sauna into every sauna moment by cherishing tradition, trusting technology, and investing in design. We aim to ensure that the Finnish spirit is with you wherever you go to sauna, but at the same time you can enjoy bathing in your own perfect way.
We have a wide network of retailers who sell our heaters and stone radiators in stores and online, and we are constantly looking for new opportunities internationally. Our goal is to bring a piece of the Finnish sauna experience to every sauna enthusiast around the globe.
The heater of the future is born from tradition and technology
At the heart of Mondex’s philosophy is to combine traditional Finnish sauna culture and modern technology. This is evident in our careful material and design solutions as well as in the energy efficiency, user comfort, and beauty of our products. We expand our selection with products that have been finalized to the last detail and constantly improve our know-how, invest in innovative solutions, and develop the Finnish sauna culture.
In the spring 2026, we will launch new models of our famous Teno and Kalla heaters. In these updated models the design and technical properties of the heaters have been taken to a new level. The air deflector has been moved inside the heater, the perforated casing has been updated, and the new logo has been added to the front panel. Thanks to the simple and beautiful appearance, the heater becomes a seamless part of the sauna interior. The finalized technical solutions make the heating of these models faster and more energy-efficient and give the bather more time just to enjoy the experience. It is important for us to look towards the future and be a part of a developing, modern Finnish sauna culture without forgetting our roots. Whether you are using a wood or an electric heater, the goal is the same. All of us want to enjoy a calming, enveloping heat, to stop, relax, and forget the stress of everyday life for a moment. Every throw of water and the steam it creates is enjoyed to the max. A roll in the snow, a dip in the lake, or just cooling off outside between steams are an integral part of the Finnish sauna experience and its intangible heritage, and they remind us that wellbeing is based on the balance between us and the world.
