Aufguss is a sauna ritual that began in Germany. The word means “infusion.” A sauna master pours water scented with essential oils onto the hot stones, then moves the steam through the room with a large towel. The heat rises in waves, gentle at first, then enveloping.
How a session works
A session lasts about 10 to 15 minutes. You settle onto the benches, breathe, and let yourself be guided. Each wave of steam carries a scent: eucalyptus, citrus or pine, depending on the day’s theme. The sauna master sets the pace. You stay tuned to your body, and you’re free to step out at any time.
Afterward, you follow the same flow as any thermal circuit: a cold plunge, then a proper moment of rest.
Why fall suits it so well
As the air cools, the hot-cold contrast becomes stronger, and more pleasant. Scented steam warms you through after a grey day. Notes of fir or spice echo the season. And the rest that follows, wrapped in your robe with the trees turning colour around you, feels different.
Fall is also back-to-routine season. An aufguss session becomes a concrete way to build a pause into your week.
Aufguss at Kōena
At Kōena Spa, aufguss is offered as a complement to your bath access, based on the day’s schedule and sauna capacity. Check the schedule at reception when you arrive, then plan your circuit around it. If the schedule shifts, the rest of the circuit is waiting: Finnish sauna, hammam, outdoor baths and the Himalayan pink salt room.
The baths are open 9 am to 10 pm, every day, on a first-come, first-served basis. From Sunday to Thursday, evening access is $39 from 5 pm (plus taxes).