Lavender, citrus and pine suggest three very different directions for a saunagus. One can read as soft and floral, another as bright and sharp, and the third as green and woody. The gusmester's craft is deciding whether those directions belong in the same session at all. A good sequence gives each round its own character while leaving room for the heat, music and people in the sauna.
Start with the room, not a shopping list
A gusmester can begin with a feeling rather than the name of an oil. Should the first round invite you to settle on the bench, or draw your attention at once? Is the music quiet, or does it build? How much heat is already in the room? Those questions shape the choice before any scented water touches the stones.
The scent does not arrive on its own. Water meets the stones, the air changes, and a towel moves the warm, scented air towards the benches. A delicate note can disappear behind a strong one. A scent that seems gentle from the doorway can feel much closer when the gusmester moves the heat towards you. The choice is therefore about how a note behaves in the room, as well as what it smells like in the bottle.
There is no universal scent order to follow. Our gusmesters choose their own oils, and the selection can change from one session to another. If you want an introduction to the main scent families, read our guide to sauna oils. Here, the interesting part is what happens between one scent and the next.
Trine Thy describes cedar and pine as her way of bringing a little sense of nature into the city. Lydia Bevan speaks about choosing music and oils together, moving among floral spice, citrus and mint in her own work. These are their approaches, not a fixed scent menu for either gusmester.
A change you can feel without naming the oil
Imagine a round built around a woody note such as pine. It might bring a sense of trees and resin into the room. A later round could turn towards citrus, which may register as lighter and more pointed against that darker start. Lavender offers a floral possibility for a different, softer turn. This is an example of how contrasting notes could be arranged, not a Heat Harmony recipe or a promise that lavender will be used at your session.
The move need not be dramatic. Pine followed by another woody scent might make the transition feel close and continuous. A sharp citrus note after a muted one can make the change clear even if the music stays gentle. Sometimes the more interesting choice is to give a single scent enough space, rather than keep adding new ones. The towel, the pace and the moments between pours can all change how you meet it.
Two gusmesters could choose the same oil and still make different rounds. One might let the scent sit with a slow piece of music. Another might work the towel sooner and bring the scented heat close. Neither approach gives the oil a fixed effect on your mood or body.
The people on the benches are part of the choice
Everyone shares the same air, but not the same nose. A smell one guest finds faint may feel strong to the person beside them. The gusmester cannot make a scent private, so restraint matters. Choosing what to leave out is as much a part of the composition as choosing what to bring in.
You can take the session at your own pace. A lower bench is cooler; you can also step outside if the heat or scent feels like too much. Tell staff if you feel dizzy or unwell. You do not need to inhale deeply to get more from an oil. It is enough to breathe comfortably and notice what is there.
Please leave personal oils and other products outside the sauna. Under our behaviour policy, only products provided and administered by a certified gusmester may be used during a session. That protects the shared air and the sauna oven. Our FAQ covers the other practical house rules, including the towel and shower requirements.
What to listen and smell for next time
At your next gus, notice the first scent before trying to identify it. Does it reach you with the first wave of heat, or only when the towel starts moving? Notice what changes in the next round: the scent itself, its strength, the music, or the space the gusmester leaves between movements. There is no right answer to find. Paying attention can make a familiar ritual feel new.
If you know you prefer a quieter pace, Relaxed Gus is a place to start. Signature Gus has a different arc across its rounds. The exact oils still belong to the gusmester's choice on the day, so a format tells you more about the pace than the scent list. You can explore the formats before choosing a session.
For a close look at one scent, read our piece on eucalyptus in the sauna. For the wider palette, return to sauna oils. When you want to experience how a gusmester puts the parts together, see current prices and find a session.