This summer, Aufguss made it to the Edinburgh Fringe. Sauna Theatre set up an 80-person sauna in the Summerhall car park and ran sessions from morning to night all through August, with 26 sauna masters from the UK, Germany, the US and across Central Europe. There were DJ sets, literary readings, even a Virginia Woolf adaptation - all in the heat.
If you've seen the clips and wondered what the fuss is about, good news: you don't need a train to Edinburgh. You can try it right here in London.
So, What Does Aufguss Mean?
Aufguss (say it "owf-goose") is German for "infusion" or "pouring on". It grew up in German thermal baths in the mid-20th century, building on Finnish sauna traditions, and has since become an art form in its own right. An Aufguss World Championship has run since 2012, and the UK has had its own championships since 2023.
At its heart, though, it's simple: steam, scent, moving air and a room full of people sharing the heat together.
What Happens in a Session
An Aufguss usually lasts around 10-15 minutes, split into a few rounds. Each round goes something like this:
The pour: the sauna master pours water or ice, often infused with essential oils, onto the hot stones. A wave of scented steam rises through the room.
The towel work: using a towel and a series of flowing, rhythmic movements, the sauna master pushes the hot air around the room - often in time to music. Some sweep it gently over the benches, others whip it overhead like a flag.
The heat: moving air carries heat to your skin faster, so you'll feel it more than in a normal session, even though the temperature hasn't changed.
Your First Aufguss: What to Expect
It's a shared experience, so a few things help everyone enjoy it:
Arrive on time. The door usually stays closed once the ritual starts, to keep the heat in.
Sit on your towel and settle in.
Keep it quiet during the rounds, so everyone can soak it up.
Listen to your body. If it gets too much, move to a lower bench or step out between rounds. That's completely fine - no one's keeping score.
Cool down afterwards with a plunge or some fresh air, and drink plenty of water.
Before You Book
Aufguss is more intense than a regular sauna session. If you have a heart condition or low blood pressure, are pregnant, or are recovering from surgery, have a chat with your GP first. We want everyone to feel good in the heat.
Meet Our Sauna Masters
We're lucky to have some brilliant practitioners sharing their craft with us. Each brings their own style, music and scents, so no two sessions feel the same.
Aufguss with Chris: Chris (@saunaiceman) runs flavour-led sessions with his signature homemade ice balls and inventive essential oil blends, all set to a strong rhythm.
Seasonal Aufguss with Oliver: Oliver Wessely (@saunagus_uk) is a trained Aufgussmeister at our Walthamstow site, whose rituals of heat, scent and sound change with the seasons.
Saunasthesia with Omar and Will: a listening room and an Aufguss session rolled into one. In a blackout sauna with a HiFi sound system, Omar and Will sync temperature, sound and scent.
Oliver's Sauna Playlist
How he picks the music: "In each session I would choose 3–5 songs… 12 minutes being the sweet spot. I will align the playlist based on the progression in intensity of the song bpm, which mirrors the heart rate of people in the sauna."
His favourite track: "Noku Mana by Trippin Jaguar. It is hypnotic, trance-like… Please use this song with care; I honestly feel a paternal instinct towards it."
The one that didn't work: "I did a James Bond theme and I started with Goldfinger and the heavy brass and Shirley Bassey's voice was so loud at the beginning it was a bit much. Remember, start slow, folks."
Ready to Give It a Go?
Keep an eye on our events calendar for upcoming Aufguss sessions across our sites, and book your spot early - they fill up fast.
See you in the sauna
The Community Sauna Baths Team
