A European trend is redefining the concept of spa wellness. The Aufguss, which means “infusion” in German, is no longer just a heat ritual: it is a multisensory experience, where the sauna master’s gesture, aromatic steam, and music create a theater of shared perceptions.
Sitting among the scorching rocks, participants watch an Aufgussmeister twirl a white towel in his hands as the steam is enriched with scents of patchouli, grapefruit and sage. Orchestral music accompanies the rhythm of the steam and towels, transforming the heat into a starring element capable of creating a shared intimacy among those present.
The modern origins of the Aufguss date back to the 20th century in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Italian Dolomites, where it served to renew stagnant air in saunas. Today, however, the Aufguss is a true performance: the integration of aromas, lights, sounds and scenic movements has transformed an ancient ritual into a shared artistic experience in which the body becomes an integral part of a sensory journey.
A global, shared experience
In South Tyrol, many spas offer multiple sessions on the same day. After fifteen minutes of intense steam, participants cool off in icy lakes, alternating between hot and cold in an experience that invigorates body and mind. The community dimension is central: this is not an individual experience, but a collective journey in which everyone contributes to the sensory choreography of the sauna.
The expansion of Aufguss is not limited to Europe. Spas in Japan, Australia, Canada, and the United States are adapting the ritual to their local cultures, maintaining the idea of a shared journey of reflection and sensory pleasure. Even in the United Kingdom, sauna lovers can participate in special sessions, such as in North Yorkshire and Kent, while in New York Bathhouse offers a “sweatbox” program with house and R&B music, proving that the ritual can be contemporary without betraying tradition.
Theater, emotion and well-being
One of the most spectacular variations is the theatrical Aufguss, where Aufgussmeisters construct sensory narratives. Sigrid Van Rijswijk, the third woman to win the world championships in WM 2025 Aufguss in Verona, brought a spirit-guided fortune teller into the sauna, integrating scents of sage, copal, rose, and hibiscus with music and scenery, earning applause from a standing-room-only audience. “Aufguss is sport, art, theater and wellness together,” Van Rijswijk told the BBC.
The success of the Aufguss reveals an often underestimated emotional dimension: disconnecting from technology, stopping for fifteen minutes and feeling part of a shared experience generates deep gratification. Deborah Carr of the British Sauna Society explained to the U.K. Public Broadcasting Service that participants leave with a radiant smile, having devoted time exclusively to themselves, in a space where body and mind converse without distraction.
In addition to individual well-being, Aufguss emphasizes the value of a conscious relationship with the environment: steam, natural aromas, music and gesture become tools for appreciating the world around us, promoting a sustainable practice that respects natural spaces, from alpine lakes to surrounding forests.
Today the Aufguss is a global phenomenon, from the Dolomites to spas in Tokyo, Las Vegas or Toronto. An ancient ritual reinterpreted with creativity, it becomes a shared experience, an ephemeral art and a reflection on the connection between body, mind and nature. And it is a reminder that wellness is also about community, mindfulness and the ability to stop, breathe and let warmth envelop you.
