Best Wood for a Sauna: Cedar, Hemlock, Spruce and Thermo-Wood Compared

Canadian Red Cedar: the aromatic classic

Canadian Red Cedar (also called Western Red Cedar) is the wood most people picture when they think of a sauna.

• The look Warm ambers, reds and deep chocolate tones, with plenty of variation from board to board.
• The experience A rich, woody aroma that comes alive as the room heats up. Its natural oils help it resist rot, mold and insects, which is why it's so popular outdoors.
• Best for Outdoor saunas, and anyone who sees that classic cedar scent as part of the ritual.
• Where you'll find it Golden Designs outdoor and traditional saunas, Maxxus cedar infrared saunas, and Finnmark infrared, hybrid and barrel saunas.

Pacific Clear Cedar: cedar without the knots

Pacific Clear Cedar is red cedar from the Pacific Northwest, graded "clear", which means the boards are chosen for few or no knots.

• The look Clean, even grain in warm honey-to-reddish tones. It has all the colour of cedar with a smoother, more refined finish.
• The experience The same natural moisture resistance and pleasant cedar aroma as red cedar. Fewer knots also means a more uniform surface on walls and benches.
• Best for Barrel saunas and traditional saunas where you want a polished, high-end cedar look.
• Where you'll find it Golden Designs barrel saunas (St. Moritz, Arosa, Zurich, Klosters) and traditional saunas, plus the Maxxus S-Line Yoga and Dynamic Sicily and Vero compact saunas.

Eastern White Cedar: the lighter, rustic alternative

Grown in northeastern North America, Eastern White Cedar gives you cedar's durability with a softer, lighter character.

• The look Creamy pale yellow to light tan, with rustic tight knots. Outdoors, it weathers to a soft silvery grey over time.
• The experience A gentle cedar scent that's milder than red cedar. It's naturally resistant to decay and moisture.
• Best for Outdoor barrel and cabin saunas where you want cedar's weather resistance with a brighter tone and a lighter scent.
• Where you'll find it Dundalk Leisurecraft barrel and cabin saunas, including the Harmony, Serenity, Tranquility, Georgian, MiniPOD and Avalon.

Canadian Hemlock: the clean, modern choice

Hemlock is the go-to wood for modern indoor infrared saunas.

• The look Light blonde tones with a straight, even grain. Minimal and modern.
• The experience Almost no scent, and very little resin. That makes it a good choice if you're sensitive to strong smells or just want a neutral room to unwind in.
• Best for Indoor infrared saunas and anyone who prefers a scent-free session.
• Where you'll find it Most Dynamic and Maxxus infrared saunas, and many Golden Designs infrared, hybrid and traditional saunas.

Nordic Spruce: the authentic Finnish look

Spruce from Northern Europe brings the classic, old-school Finnish sauna look.

• The look Pale straw-yellow with small, characterful knots.
• The experience A soft wood that stays comfortable to the touch, with a faint, sweet pine scent when you throw water on the stones.
• Best for Traditional saunas where a true Scandinavian style is the goal.
• Where you'll find it The SaunaLife G2 Garden Series.

Thermo-Spruce: the outdoor workhorse

• The look A deep, even brown with the visible grain and knots of spruce.
• The experience Very stable, so it handles rain, sun and swings in temperature well, which is why it's often used for outer walls and structure.
• Best for Outdoor saunas that live in the elements year-round.
• Where you'll find it SaunaLife Cube, Garden, Garden Luxury and Ergo barrel saunas.

Thermo-Aspen: the bench favourite

• The look A warm, honeyed brown with a smooth, fine grain.
• The experience Aspen has no resin, so there's no sap seeping out in the heat, and it stays comfortable to sit on at full sauna temperature. That's why it's so often used for benches and backrests.
• Best for Interiors and benches you'll be in direct contact with.
• Where you'll find it Finnmark infrared, hybrid and barrel saunas (including the FD-7 Thermo-Aspen barrel), and SaunaLife Ergo and Garden Series saunas.

Thermo-Pine: rustic warmth

• The look Rich brown tones with pine's lively, characterful grain.
• The experience The heat treatment gives pine extra stability and weather resistance for outdoor use.
• Best for Outdoor saunas with a warm, rustic feel.
• Where you'll find it The SaunaLife G6 Garden Series pre-assembled sauna.

Thermo Grandis: the architectural hardwood

• The look A deep, uniform brown with a clean, straight grain. Sleek and contemporary.
• The experience Grandis is a fast-growing plantation hardwood. Heat-treating it gives a dense, stable timber that keeps its shape in heat and humidity.
• Best for Modern indoor traditional saunas where design matters as much as performance.
• Where you'll find it The Dundalk Leisurecraft Element Nook, Loft and Studio.