Sauna gifts: ideas for sauna lovers and regulars
Anyone who goes to the sauna at least once a week all winter has long since sorted out their towel, flip-flops and favourite bench. That is why finding a sauna gift is trickier than it sounds: what do you give someone who already has everything? The good news is that sauna lovers appreciate things that make the ritual a little nicer, from a big lounging towel to a soap for the shower afterwards. Here are ideas for regulars at the spa and for anyone with a sauna at home.
Gifts for sauna lovers that actually get used
- A large sauna towel. Many saunas ask that no sweat touches the wood, so the towel has to fit under your whole body. A full-length towel is always welcome.
- A felt sauna hat. It looks funny at first, but it is a classic, especially in Finland. Many people like that it keeps their head from feeling too hot.
- A light dressing gown or a sauna kilt with a hook-and-loop fastener for the walks between rounds.
- Flip-flops that do not slip and dry quickly.
- A sauna bag with a separate pocket for wet things.
- A voucher for their favourite spa or a sauna they have never tried.
Sauna accessories for a home sauna
Anyone with their own sauna in the basement or a barrel sauna in the garden will enjoy accessories people rarely buy for themselves:
- a wooden bucket and ladle
- sauna infusion scents for diluting, such as birch, eucalyptus or citrus, depending on the brand and stove
- a 15 minute sand timer
- a wall thermometer with hygrometer
- a wooden headrest for the top bench
The sauna ritual: how a session works
If you are giving someone their first sauna visit, add a little cheat sheet. A typical sauna ritual looks like this:
- Shower and dry off. You go in clean and dry.
- The session. Around 8 to 15 minutes, depending on how you feel, lying or sitting on your own towel.
- Cool down. First some fresh air, then a cold shower or the plunge pool.
- Rest. Lie down wrapped in a blanket and drink water or tea.
- Repeat. Usually two or three rounds.
It all ends with a warm shower. And that is where soap comes in.
Showering after the sauna: solid soap and Soapi
For the sauna bag, solid soap and shampoo bars are handy: nothing leaks and nothing weighs much. The Skargard birch shampoo bar is made for hair and body, 60 g, so one bar covers everything. Birch suits the sauna mood nicely too. Add a small soap tin and the travel shower kit is ready.
In a home sauna, the soap belongs on the wall. Soapi is a magnetic soap holder: a bottle cap is pressed halfway into the bar, the soap hangs from the magnet and dries all round instead of sitting in a puddle on the shower floor. It sticks to smooth tiles or glass with a waterproof adhesive pad, no drilling. Important: do not stick it inside the sauna cabin itself, but in the shower area in front of it. A Soapi costs €12.95 and comes in 10 colours.
If you would like something special: Charcoal Gold from Stone Soap Spa has a fresh, cooling note from tea tree and peppermint that many people enjoy after a warm session. Coconut charcoal makes it black and cleans thoroughly, while 24 carat gold leaf gives it its distinctive look. Stone Soap Spa is a brand from Norway, made in Thailand, because that is where the ingredients grow: coconut, rice bran and sesame are processed fresh on site. Stock is small, so find all current varieties, from €13, in Soaps & Shampoos.
Cold water and ice baths: a quick word on the trend
Ice baths, winter swimming and cold showers after the sauna are a big topic right now. Many people like the feeling afterwards: awake, clear-headed, a little proud. If you are buying for someone with this hobby, warm things for afterwards make lovely gifts: a towelling poncho, neoprene socks, a good flask or a woolly hat. And if you are curious yourself: if you are unsure whether ice bathing is right for you, check with a doctor first.
Sauna gift set with Mix & Match
With Mix & Match you pick 5 products for €50, with free shipping within Germany. For sauna fans, for example:
- Sauna shower set: 1 Soapi in petrol, 2 Skargard shampoo bars, a shower bar from KLAR and a soap from Marseille.
- For two sauna lovers: 2 Soapis in black and grey, 2 Skargard shampoo bars and a soap from Blaull.
Add a sauna towel or a voucher and the gift is complete. For more ideas, see gifts for men who have everything and our wellness gift guide.
Frequently asked questions
What do I give someone who already has all the sauna kit?
Something for before or after: a voucher for a new spa, a nice dressing gown, a special soap or a shampoo bar for the sauna bag.
Can I stick Soapi inside the sauna?
No, please not inside the cabin. The right spot is the shower area in front of it, on smooth tiles or glass.
Can I bring my own soap to a public spa?
Each spa sets its own rules, so if in doubt, ask at reception. Either way, solid soap and shampoo bars are light and will not leak in your bag.
In short
Good sauna gifts make the ritual nicer: a big towel, a hat, kit for the home sauna and a soap that hangs dry on the wall after the shower. Put together your own set with Mix & Match.
