Softer-feeling löyly. A more comfortable sauna experience. Skin that feels less tight after bathing. These are some of the experiences KIUASSUOLA™ customers have shared with us over the years.
Many users particularly appreciate the difference in electric saunas, where the heat can sometimes feel dry or sharp. Others have described positive experiences involving their skin, hair and breathing.
But why salt?
Salt has been used for centuries in bathing traditions, skin care and respiratory wellbeing. From mineral springs and historic salt caves to modern salt rooms, its remarkable relationship with water and the human body continues to attract interest.
Today, several applications of salt are also studied in medical research.
KIUASSUOLA™ was developed to bring this long tradition into the Finnish sauna, combining natural salt, Finnish soapstone, heat and löyly.
Salt and Wellbeing – A Tradition That Spans Centuries
Long before modern spas existed, people were bathing in naturally salty waters and mineral-rich springs.
Saltwater bathing became part of wellbeing traditions across different cultures. Salt was also used for cleansing the skin and preparing solutions for personal care.
One fascinating chapter of this history comes from Poland.
At the historic Wieliczka Salt Mine, physician Feliks Boczkowski became interested in the respiratory health of salt mine workers during the nineteenth century. His observations contributed to the development of health-related activities associated with the mine.
Over time, the distinctive underground environment of salt mines became part of spa and rehabilitation traditions. These practices also helped inspire modern salt rooms and salt cave therapies.
Today, people visit salt rooms for respiratory and skin wellbeing, relaxation and the experience itself.
Salt is not a new wellness trend. Its long history has inspired both traditional practices and modern scientific research.
What Does Salt Actually Do?
Some of salt's most interesting properties come from its relationship with water.
Common salt consists mainly of sodium chloride. When dissolved in water, it forms a saline solution whose concentration influences how water moves and how the solution interacts with skin and mucous membranes.
This is particularly relevant to respiratory mucus, the natural cleaning mechanisms of the airways and the conditions at the skin's surface.
Salt is used in several different ways:
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Nasal saline irrigation: Saltwater comes into direct contact with the nasal membranes, helping rinse away mucus and accumulated particles.
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Mineral salt baths: Salt-rich water comes into contact with the skin and may influence its surface conditions.
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Active salt rooms: Specialised equipment disperses fine salt particles into the surrounding air.
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KIUASSUOLA™ Sauna Ritual Salt: Natural compressed salt rests on a heated Finnish soapstone base, where it encounters the warmth and moisture of the sauna.
The common element is salt, but the effects depend on how it is used.
Understanding these different applications helps explain why salt has remained such an interesting natural material in wellbeing.
Salt and Respiratory Wellbeing
Our respiratory system has its own natural cleaning mechanism.
Mucus captures particles entering with the air we breathe. Tiny hair-like structures called cilia help move this material out of the respiratory tract.
Moisture and the properties of mucus are important to this process.
One familiar way of caring for the nasal passages is saline irrigation.
Saline solutions help rinse away mucus and substances that have accumulated on the nasal membranes. Depending on their concentration, they may also influence mucus movement.
A Cochrane review published in 2018 examined 14 studies involving 747 adults and children with allergic rhinitis.
The review found that nasal saline irrigation may help reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms compared with not using saline irrigation, although the certainty of the evidence was low.
This is one example of why salt remains an important subject in respiratory wellbeing.
What About Salt Rooms?
In active salt rooms, specialised equipment disperses fine salt particles into the air.
Salt room treatments have been studied in connection with respiratory comfort, mucus clearance and airway sensitivity.
Research has also been conducted in Finland.
A Finnish randomised study published in 2006 investigated salt room treatment among 32 people with asthma.
Researchers observed improvements in a measure of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in participants receiving active salt room treatment compared with a control group.
The study was small, and its results do not establish salt room therapy as a proven asthma treatment. However, they provide an interesting example of scientific research into salt-based respiratory applications.
For many people, personal experience is also an important part of their interest in salt rooms.
The combination of these traditions, research findings and people's experiences helped inspire the original KIUASSUOLA™ innovation.
Salt and Skin – Why Are Mineral Salt Baths So Popular?
Our skin's protective barrier plays an essential role in maintaining moisture and protecting against external irritation.
When this barrier is disrupted, the skin may feel dry, tight, rough or uncomfortable.
Salt baths have a long history of use in connection with skin wellbeing.
The mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea are among the most familiar examples.
In a study published in 2005, researchers investigated the effects of bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution on dry, atopic skin.
Compared with bathing in ordinary water, the salt solution improved skin hydration and reduced roughness and redness.
The researchers suggested that the high magnesium content may have contributed to these results.
This finding illustrates how certain mineral salt solutions can influence the condition of the skin under specific circumstances.
Salt Baths and Psoriasis
Saltwater bathing has also been studied in connection with psoriasis, particularly when combined with ultraviolet B (UVB) light therapy.
A 2020 Cochrane review examined eight randomised studies involving 1,976 participants in the analyses.
The findings suggested that saltwater bathing combined with UVB therapy may improve psoriasis outcomes more than UVB therapy alone in some circumstances, although the evidence was considered uncertain.
These studies examine particular types of saltwater bathing, not salt used in a sauna.
Nevertheless, they help explain why salt has maintained its place in skin wellbeing traditions and scientific research.
Bringing Salt Wellbeing Into the Finnish Sauna
KIUASSUOLA™ began with a simple question:
Why should the tradition of salt wellbeing belong only to salt rooms, mineral baths and specialised wellness treatments?
Could natural salt become part of an ordinary Finnish sauna?
From the beginning, our development work was particularly inspired by people with sensitive skin, atopic conditions, psoriasis, asthma, allergies and fragrance sensitivities.
For some people, sauna bathing is not always entirely comfortable. Dry-feeling heat, intense löyly or uncomfortable skin sensations may shorten an otherwise enjoyable sauna session.
We wanted to explore a natural, fragrance-free approach that would fit into everyday Finnish sauna bathing.
The result was KIUASSUOLA™ – natural salt compressed into a form developed specifically for sauna use, together with a Finnish soapstone base designed to hold it.
No added fragrances. No separate machines. No complicated new routine.
Just natural salt, Finnish soapstone and the familiar warmth of the sauna.
How Does KIUASSUOLA™ Work on the Sauna Heater?
KIUASSUOLA™ Sauna Ritual Salt is placed on the ILMARI KUURA™ Finnish soapstone base, positioned securely among the sauna stones.
Soapstone absorbs heat and releases it gradually.
As the sauna warms, the soapstone transfers heat to the compressed salt. During bathing, the salt also encounters changes in humidity and ordinary splashes of löyly water.
Moisture and water reaching the salt can gradually dissolve its surface, causing the compressed piece to become smaller over time.
The ILMARI KUURA™ base has a specially designed protective rim extending above the salt, helping protect it from excessive splashing during normal sauna use.
Ordinary splashes of löyly water are sufficient. There is no need to pour water directly onto the salt.
One piece of KIUASSUOLA™ Sauna Ritual Salt typically lasts approximately 20 sauna sessions, depending on temperature, humidity and individual sauna habits.
Once the salt has been used up, it can be replaced. The Finnish soapstone base remains in use.
This is our original Finnish approach to bringing natural salt into the sauna.
What Have KIUASSUOLA™ Customers Experienced?
Over the years, customer feedback has become an important part of our product's story.
Some customers were already familiar with salt rooms, mineral baths or saline products before discovering KIUASSUOLA™. Others experienced salt in the sauna for the very first time.
Their observations have covered several aspects of sauna bathing.
Softer, More Comfortable Löyly
One of the most common experiences is the feeling of softer and gentler löyly.
Many customers tell us they enjoy spending more time in the sauna because the heat feels more comfortable.
We have received particularly positive feedback from electric sauna users.
People who previously experienced electric sauna löyly as dry, sharp or intense have described it as softer and more pleasant when using KIUASSUOLA™.
For some, this has been the most noticeable difference compared with their usual sauna experience.
The sensation of löyly is individual, but these recurring observations have been meaningful to us throughout KIUASSUOLA™'s development.
Skin That Feels More Comfortable
Customers with dry, sensitive or atopic skin have described their skin as feeling calmer and more comfortable after KIUASSUOLA™ sauna bathing.
Some have also noticed that they feel less need to apply moisturising products afterwards.
Customers living with psoriasis have shared positive experiences as well.
For someone whose skin often feels tight or uncomfortable after sauna bathing, a more pleasant experience can make a real difference to their personal enjoyment of the sauna.
Lighter, More Voluminous Hair
Some surprisingly positive feedback has concerned hair.
Customers have described their hair as feeling particularly light, airy and full of volume after KIUASSUOLA™ löyly.
This has been especially noticeable when they have not followed their sauna session with heavy shampoos, conditioners or styling products.
More Comfortable Breathing
Some customers living with asthma or allergies have told us that breathing in the sauna feels more comfortable when using KIUASSUOLA™.
Others have described personal experiences of mucus feeling easier to clear and reduced sensations of respiratory irritation.
We have also received feedback about less night-time coughing following sauna bathing with KIUASSUOLA™.
These are individual customer observations, not clinically established treatment effects of KIUASSUOLA™. Research into other salt applications does not directly establish the effects of our sauna product.
Nevertheless, these experiences have helped shape the product's development and explain why some customers have made KIUASSUOLA™ a regular part of their sauna routine.
Why Try Salt in Your Sauna?
You do not need to have sensitive skin or respiratory concerns to be interested in salt wellbeing.
Perhaps you already love your sauna but would like to explore a different kind of löyly experience.
Perhaps the traditions of salt rooms and mineral baths interest you.
Or perhaps you simply prefer natural, fragrance-free products.
KIUASSUOLA™ offers a straightforward way to discover salt as part of your existing sauna routine.
What makes KIUASSUOLA™ worth exploring?
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Natural salt with a long wellbeing tradition. Salt has been used in many different forms for centuries, and several applications have been scientifically investigated.
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Experiences shared by real sauna users. Customers frequently describe softer-feeling löyly and positive experiences involving their skin, hair and breathing.
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Simple to use. No special machines or complicated procedures – just the salt and its dedicated soapstone base.
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No added fragrances. Enjoy the familiar sauna atmosphere without introducing perfume.
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Reusable Finnish soapstone. Replace the salt when needed while continuing to use your ILMARI KUURA™ base.
Why ILMARI KUURA™?
ILMARI KUURA™ is crafted from carefully selected, rare blue-toned Finnish soapstone.
Its natural patterns and shades make every piece unique.
The material is valued for its heat-retaining properties, while the carefully designed base provides a dedicated place for KIUASSUOLA™ Sauna Ritual Salt on the heater.
You can choose between Atlantic Sea Salt and Himalayan Rock Salt.
Both are carefully selected natural salts without added fragrances or artificial colouring.
The combination is simple: Finnish soapstone, natural salt and your own sauna.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sauna Salt
What are the benefits of salt in a sauna?
KIUASSUOLA™ customers frequently describe softer-feeling löyly and a more comfortable sauna experience. We have also received positive feedback about skin, hair and breathing sensations.
These are personal experiences rather than clinically proven treatment benefits.
What does KIUASSUOLA™ do on the sauna heater?
The compressed salt rests on the ILMARI KUURA™ soapstone base, where it encounters heat and moisture.
The salt gradually wears away during sauna use and can be replaced when needed.
Can KIUASSUOLA™ be used in an electric sauna?
Yes. KIUASSUOLA™ with ILMARI KUURA™ is designed for use with both electric and wood-burning sauna heaters when the instructions are followed.
Electric sauna users have particularly often described their löyly as softer and more comfortable.
Do I need to pour water onto the salt?
No. Pour water onto the surrounding sauna stones as usual.
Normal splashes of löyly water are sufficient. ILMARI KUURA™ has a protective rim designed for regular sauna use.
Avoid intentionally pouring large amounts of water directly onto the salt or soapstone base.
How long does one KIUASSUOLA™ Sauna Ritual Salt last?
One compressed salt piece typically lasts around 20 sauna sessions.
Actual use depends on temperature, humidity and sauna habits.
The ILMARI KUURA™ soapstone base can be refilled with a new KIUASSUOLA™ Sauna Ritual Salt.
Discover a Different Dimension of Your Sauna
Salt has been part of wellbeing traditions for centuries, from natural mineral springs to modern salt rooms.
KIUASSUOLA™ brings a Finnish perspective to this history.
Our innovation was developed with a simple goal: to make natural salt part of the familiar sauna experience, without added fragrances or unnecessary complexity.
Today, the experiences of our customers continue to inspire us.
If you have ever wondered whether your sauna could feel softer, gentler or simply more enjoyable, KIUASSUOLA™ offers an interesting new way to find out.
PURE • STRONG • RITUAL
Discover KIUASSUOLA™ – The Original Finnish Sauna Salt Ritual
Start with ILMARI KUURA™, our premium Finnish soapstone sauna salt holder, and your chosen KIUASSUOLA™ Sauna Ritual Salt.
When the salt has gradually worn away, simply replace it and continue enjoying your sauna.
Research and Further Reading
1. The Wieliczka Salt Mine – Salt and Wellness History
Wieliczka Salt Mine Health Resort
Historical background on salt mines and wellbeing traditions.
2. Cochrane Review (2018) – Nasal Saline Irrigation for Allergic Rhinitis
Nasal saline for allergic rhinitis
A review of 14 studies involving 747 participants examining nasal saline irrigation and allergic rhinitis symptoms.
3. Hedman et al. (2006) – Salt Room Therapy and Asthma
A Finnish randomised study investigating salt room treatment in people with asthma.
4. Proksch et al. (2005) – Dead Sea Salt and Atopic Dry Skin
Research examining skin hydration, roughness and redness after bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution.
5. Cochrane Review (2020) – Saltwater Bathing and UVB Therapy for Psoriasis
Saltwater bathing followed by UVB therapy
Research into saltwater bathing combined with UVB therapy for chronic plaque psoriasis.
The research referenced in this article concerns different methods of using salt. These findings do not directly establish the effects of KIUASSUOLA™ Sauna Ritual Salt. The KIUASSUOLA™ experiences described are individual customer observations rather than clinically established treatment outcomes.