Dried Hand Made Sauna Whisk / Sauna Vihta - Birch & Sage

This striking sauna whisk consists of a mix of birch twigs and sage stems. The pleasant scent of essential oil-rich sage blooms with health improving properties and the birch leaves will leave you invigorated after your sauna session. Sauna whisks are made during the summertime, usually till the Midsummer. In this period tree leaves are rich with essential oils and aromas. Our sauna whisks are 100% hand-made. After the tree twigs are cut, they are tied on using thin pieces of natural linen string and dried in a well-ventilated barn. 

Using a sauna whisk is an ancient hygiene tradition and is highly regarded throughout Finland. Using a vihta is particularly noted for creating an incomparable clean feeling especially when sauna bathing and whisking is combined with a cold plunge. Using a vihta that is regularly dipped into cold water will provide cool, refreshing relief and a vihta can be used once or twice after which it should be disposed of or composted.

Some Finn's like to soften the re-hydrated leaves on the hot sauna stones, then soak it again in cold water. Caution should be taken with this approach to avoid burning or scalding, as well as dried leaves reaching the firebox or heating elements.

Directions for use: Soak the whisks before going to the sauna. Remove the packaging. Immerse it first in cold water for 30 minutes. Carefully let the whisk sit in warm (not hot) water for another 5 minutes. Put fresh water in the sauna bucket for the whisk. The warm water that has been infused with its branches works well for sauna steam and gives the sauna a pleasant scent. You can start to use the whisk when your skin has warmed up nicely – gently whisk yourself or your fellow sauna goers. After the sauna, lightly rinse the whisk and let it hang in a cool, dry place. You can reuse it following the same instructions.