What is aufguss

The origin of the sauna is lost in antiquity. The sauna, as we know it, derives from the traditions of the Nordic populations and, in particular, of the Finns, for whom the sauna represents a central social role, while in Spain it was misinterpreted and erroneously associated with a concept of promiscuous male sexuality.
As for the Aufguss specifically, according to the most common current of thought, it has its origin in the need for air exchange in the sauna. In fact, being an enclosed space, where people suffer from intense sweating, it is naturally necessary to bring in fresh air from outside to re-oxygenate and rebalance the environment, usually in hourly cycles, by opening sauna doors and windows and letting in fresher and cleaner air. To bring the temperature and humidity of the air to the correct values in the shortest possible time, we start pouring water over the stones of the cooker and distributing the steam generated by turning a towel, and here is the ancestor of the modern Aufguss.
Gradually this gesture, particularly in the Nordic countries and in German-speaking regions, has evolved from a simple act useful for maintaining a healthy environment to a more complex and sensory ritual. It began with the addition of essential oils, to perfume the environment naturally, then moved on to the use of snow and ice which allows greater control in the production of steam and less risk of burning the essences on the boiling stone.
Subsequently, the gestures in the towel movement were refined from very simple movements such as the helicopter and the "wood splitting" to more complex, harmonious and in some cases scenographic gestures. The last steps in the evolution of the Aufguss are related to the introduction of music and, as far as the so-called Aufguss "show" is concerned, the development of a main theme during the casting by coordinating choreography, music, perfumes, etc.