Why Does My Sauna Smell Like Cedar? (And Why That's a Good Thing)

Why Does My Sauna Smell Like Cedar? (And Why That's a Good Thing)

Walk into a cedar sauna for the first time and the smell hits you immediately - warm, woodsy, slightly sweet. It's one of the first things people comment on, and for many sauna owners, it's a big part of why they chose cedar in the first place.

That scent isn't just pleasant. It's actually a sign that the wood is doing what it's supposed to do.

Where the Cedar Smell Comes From

Cedar wood contains natural aromatic oils called thujaplicins and other terpene compounds. These oils are produced by the tree as a defense mechanism against insects, fungi, and rot. When you heat cedar wood in a sauna, the warmth causes these oils to release from the wood's surface, filling the air with that distinctive aroma.

The hotter the sauna gets, the more oil is released. That's why the cedar smell is strongest during and right after a session, and fades as the wood cools down. It's essentially a natural aromatherapy experience built right into the wood itself.

Types of Cedar Used in Saunas

Not all cedar smells the same. The two types most commonly used in outdoor saunas and indoor saunas have distinctly different aromas:

Western Red Cedar

The most popular sauna wood. It has a warm, rich, slightly sweet aroma that most people find very pleasant. The scent is mellow and not overpowering. Western red cedar is naturally resistant to moisture, decay, and insects, which makes it ideal for the wet, hot environment inside a sauna.

Eastern White Cedar

Lighter in color and scent than western red cedar. The aroma is crisper and more "piney" - think of walking through an evergreen forest. Some people prefer this lighter scent, while others find it less warm than western red cedar.

Both types produce strong aromas when new, and both fade somewhat over time as the surface oils are released through repeated heating cycles.

Is the Cedar Smell Safe to Breathe?

Yes. Cedar's natural oils are not harmful at the concentrations released in a sauna. People have been using cedar in saunas for generations without health issues. In fact, the compounds in cedar (particularly plicatic acid and thujaplicin) have natural antimicrobial properties, meaning the oils that create the scent also help keep the sauna environment hygienic.

The only exception would be someone with a specific cedar allergy, which is rare but does exist. If you know you're allergic to cedar, you'll want a different wood species for your sauna.

How Long Does the Cedar Smell Last?

The strongest cedar aroma occurs in the first 6 to 12 months of use. During this period, the wood releases the most surface oil with each heating cycle. The scent gradually diminishes over time as the surface oils are depleted.

After a year or two of regular use, the aroma will be noticeably milder. It doesn't disappear completely - heating the wood always releases some scent - but it's much less pronounced than when the sauna was new.

This is completely normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with the wood. The structural and moisture-resistant properties of cedar remain regardless of how much surface aroma is left.

How to Bring Back the Cedar Smell

Missing that new-sauna aroma? There are several ways to refresh it:

• Light sanding - Gently sand the interior surfaces with 150 to 220 grit sandpaper. This exposes fresh wood beneath the depleted surface layer, releasing a new wave of oils. Sand with the grain, not against it. You only need to remove a tiny amount of material.
• Cedar essential oil - Add a few drops of pure cedarwood essential oil to your sauna bucket water. When you pour water on the stones, the steam carries the cedar scent through the sauna. This doesn't restore the wood's own oils but gives you that aroma back immediately.
• Higher temperatures - Running the sauna at the upper end of its temperature range releases more oil from the wood than lower temperatures. If you've been running cooler sessions, try a hot one and notice how the scent intensifies.
• Cedar oil spray - Some sauna accessory companies sell cedar oil sprays designed for sauna interiors. A light mist on the walls and ceiling before a session can revive the scent. Make sure any product you use is specifically designed for sauna use - no synthetic air fresheners.

Other Benefits of Cedar in a Sauna

The smell gets the attention, but cedar earned its place in saunas for more practical reasons:

• Moisture resistance - Cedar handles constant wetting and drying better than almost any wood. It doesn't warp, cup, or rot as quickly as many alternatives.
• Low thermal conductivity - Cedar doesn't get painfully hot to the touch, even when the sauna is at full temperature. You can sit, lean, and rest your arms on cedar benches comfortably.
• Insect resistance - The same oils that create the aroma repel insects naturally. Termites and carpenter ants typically avoid cedar.
• Dimensional stability - Cedar expands and contracts less than many other woods with changes in temperature and humidity. This means tighter joints and less movement over time.
• Beautiful appearance - The warm reddish-brown tones of western red cedar darken and deepen over time, giving the sauna a rich, aged character.

Cedar vs. Other Sauna Woods

If you love the cedar smell, it's a strong argument for choosing cedar over alternatives like hemlock, aspen, or spruce. Those woods have their own advantages (hemlock is lighter in scent for people who prefer less aroma, aspen is hypoallergenic), but none of them deliver the same warm, distinctive fragrance that cedar does.

Browse our outdoor sauna collection and indoor saunas to see cedar sauna options. That first session in a brand-new cedar sauna is something you won't forget.