löyly

what is löyly?

n.b.: normally, there would be a Finnish translation, but since in Finland, löyly is as ubiquitous as the wind, any attempts at explaining it would be both futile and exhaustive.

according to the Finnish Sauna Society, löyly is:

1. Steam or vapour created by throwing water on the stones of the stove
2. The heat, humidity and temperature in the sauna in general
3. The spirit in the sauna that permeates your soul after throwing water on the stones

at its most basic form, löyly is encompassed by either definition. however, as the latter definition hints, löyly is the thrust of the sauna experience. it is possible to enjoy a sauna without löyly, but it is similar to having a washer without a dryer: there is a feeling of incompleteness. some of the public and private saunas in North America do not permit löyly because it may damage the heaters (kiuas - see above picture). yet the full effect of going to the sauna must include the löyly, as it causes the pores on your skin to react to the sudden increase in humidity.

with the optimal sauna temperature being within the range of 70 to 90 degrees celsius (170 to 190 fahrenheit), the humidity should range from 25 to 50 percent in order for the ideal bathing experience. the temperature is regulated by splashing water on the kiuas. this produces löyly, the waves of soothing heat and humidity that envelop bathers.

why löyly?

it has been said that when the early tribes were in Finland, they would dig a hole in the ground, create a fire pit and cover the fire with rocks to preserve the heat. then, they would build a roof overhead to keep all the heat in, but allow a few holes so that any smoke could escape. what would happen is that if there was a light rainfall outside, or if any snow packed on the roof melted from the little room's heat, the water often times would hit the rocks and and give the people an instant steam bath.

personally, i find the best part of the sauna is the löyly. you've been in the sauna a few minutes, allowing your body to adjust to the change in temperature, getting comfortable. you dip your ladle (kauha or kippo) into the bucket of water (kiulu) and fill it with enough löylywater as you can hold with one hand. you either gently pour or professionally flick the kauha full of water at the hot rocks on the kiuas (kiuaskivet) and await the great crispy roar as the water instantly vaporizes when it touches the kivet. then you watch the löyly rise from the kiuas and rebound off the ceiling and you await the temporary sharp sting of the löyly with anticipation. then you relax as your body absorbs the heat and listen to the crackling echoes from the kiuas of the löyly's previous hurrah.

löyly practices

most of the time, only water should be thrown to produce löyly. mixing eucalyptus oil or a specific sauna tar with the water can add a nice feel and smell to the löyly, resembling birch (this is usually done on the electric kiuas or if the wood kiuas isn't burning any "interesting" wood (i.e. odoured wood like birch or hickory) that would enrich the sauna experience). there are some elixirs that have special spices or scents that, when thrown on the kiuas, make a refreshing löyly that could contain magic powers, as rumour goes. then again, there's beer, which gives the löyly a warm bread smell (don't overdo the beer as löyly, however, because you'll get light-headed rather quickly).

administering the löyly can encourage a hierarchy much similar to the person who has the television remote control, as that person is the one who controls how humid the sauna will get. the kiulu and kippo would be very close at hand and any advances to take over control of the löyly would be met by a tenacious defence. thankfully, some saunas have been set up with a vast number of kiulus and kippos so that no fights break out, but there the head figure of a clan would always operate the löyly level and he/she would use a specific kiulu and kippo every time (because sometimes you wash up and rinse with the other kiulus if you're in a sauna without a separate room for the shower or bath (pesuhuone), and you don't want the löylywater to be "tainted").

if the opportunity exists, try placing a bundle of June birch branches (vasta or vihta) on top of the kiuaskivet and then going full löyly. once you've done that, well, that's a whole story unto itself.

speaking löyly

löyly is pronounced leuw-luw or leoow-loow. the actual hot room of the sauna is called the löylyhuone, because that's where the löyly is produced. to ask someone to produce more löyly, ask him/her to heittää löylyä, which literally means to throw löyly, or to throw the water on the rocks to produce löyly. a more belligerent set of people would playfully pout "lisää löylyä!", or "more löyly!" to goad the thrower to produce more löyly.