The Big Essential Oil Myth — Explained for Sauna Masters
It’s Friday night. The infusion is over, guests are leaving, and one sauna master quietly calls another aside:
“Look… I diluted it the same way in water, but this ‘100% essential oil’ burned onto the stones.
The one I used last week didn’t leave anything behind.”
“Strange… both labels say 100% pure essential oil.”
And here comes the question every sauna master has asked at least once:
👉 How can two different ‘100%’ essential oils behave completely differently on the stones?
This is where chemistry and physics take the stage.
Oil and water don’t mix. When you pour a water–oil mixture onto 200–350 °C sauna stones:
the water instantly evaporates (steam explosion),
the oil droplets hit the burning-hot stone surface directly.
Smoke point, burning, carbonization
Essential oils behave similarly to cooking oils:
they have a smoke point (usually 150–220 °C),
above that they break down, burn, and polymerize.
A sauna stone:
is far above this temperature,
is porous → it absorbs the burnt residue.
This is how you get the dreaded brown, sticky, resin-like “burned oil” marks.
2. Why Does the Ice Ball Work Better?
An ice ball is a tiny physics laboratory:
the melting process absorbs a lot of heat,
the stones cool down locally to around 100–150 °C,
the oil reaches the stone slowly and evenly,
water/steam remains present longer → a protective medium.
👉 Result:
The oil doesn’t suddenly hit 300 °C → no aggressive burning, no residue.
Sauna masters often use this professional technique:
Splash clean water onto the targeted part of the heater.
Wait until the sizzling stops → the stone is now around 100–120 °C.
Pour the water + essential oil mixture onto that cooled area.
At this reduced temperature, the oil won’t reach its burning point, making residue far less likely.
Because the term “100%” can mean very different things depending on the brand, the extraction, and the formulation.
100% essential oil content → several oils blended.
100% natural origin → may still contain carrier oils.
100% pure → not necessarily free of all diluents.
100% single-component oil → the real mono essential oil.
These differences matter — a lot.
Heavy, resinous root oils (vetiver, patchouli, balsams) → more likely to leave residue.
Light citrus oils → evaporate easily, rarely leave any mark.
Steam-distilled oils → lighter and more heat-stable.
CO₂ extracts → richer, more complex, but heat-sensitive, prone to leaving a dark film at high temperature.
Pure oil only → more likely to burn.
Alcohol or emulsifier → distributes better, evaporates faster, reduces burning risk.
(Information based on public product descriptions only.)**
A true perfume superpower — a B2B manufacturer that sells essential oils by the ton.
Their materials are labeled:
naturreine ätherische Öle,
“natural, pure essential oils,”
unverdünnt (undiluted).
Fantastic quality —
❗ but extremely concentrated → much more likely to burn if applied with water on hot stones.
The names sound similar, but the composition philosophy is completely different.
Pranarôm defines quality as:
100% natural → no synthetic emulsifiers, no mineral oils,
100% pure → no carriers, no alcohol, no turpentine.
This is very close to what sauna masters call “true pure essential oil.”
Panarom frequently uses the labels:
100% pure & natural,
tested essential oils.
This means:
the essential oil fraction is natural,
but blends often include additional carriers or stabilizers,
especially in sauna blends, which are specifically formulated to withstand high heat.
A sauna-focused retailer. Communication highlights:
ohne Zusätze (without additives),
ohne synthetische Emulgatoren (no synthetic emulsifiers).
Clean philosophy —
but each product must be checked individually to confirm whether it is truly a mono essential oil.
Known for its CPTG (“Certified Pure Tested Grade”) standard.
marketed as pure, tested, contaminant-free,
blends (e.g., Citrus Bliss, On Guard) contain multiple natural constituents.
“100% pure essential oil blend” means:
the oils inside are pure,
but the blend may still include natural non-oil components.
SaunaVibe.eu takes a clear, transparent, sauna-master-first approach:
Because a sauna master must know exactly what they’re working with:
which oils work best on ice balls,
which oils tolerate water-based infusions,
how each extraction behaves under heat.
No hidden ingredients.
No softened formulations.
Just the pure plant essence — and the knowledge to use it safely and beautifully.
What Can You Tell Your Guests or Colleagues?
“It’s not about whether the label lies when it says 100%.
The real question is: 100% WHAT?
Pure, undiluted essential oils smell incredible,
but when the water evaporates instantly on a 300 °C stone,
the oil hits full heat and can burn.
Some brands use carriers or emulsifiers,
which makes burning less likely —
but also means the scent is no longer the raw plant power.
At SaunaVibe we choose purity, transparency, and technique.
Pick the right oil for the right method: ice ball, ladle, show infusion, or meditation round.”
“100%” can mean many different things.
Physics never lies: water evaporates, oil stays.
Pure essential oil = best aroma + highest heat sensitivity.
Every brand works with a different philosophy.
SaunaVibe chooses the transparent route:
100% essential oil, clearly labeled extraction, zero additives.
👉 This is how you get pure aroma, clean stones, and a clean breath of air for every guest.
Creez parfumuri perfecte. Contactează-mă dacă îți dorești un miros special – Aromen, Aromaterapeut.
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