A sauna whisk, called a vihta in Finland and a venik in Russia, is a tied bundle of leafy birch or oak branches used to strike the skin lightly during a session. It is not a scrub and it is not a punishment: it is a way of moving hot air against the skin, and it releases a smell that is half the point.
What it is for
Whisking drives the hot air layer against your skin, which feels intense and pleasant in a way simply sitting does not, and it releases the aromatic compounds in the leaves into a humid room. The physical contact is light. Anyone expecting an exfoliating scrub has the wrong idea; the sensation is closer to being fanned very hard.
Birch, oak and eucalyptus
Birch is the Finnish standard: soft leaves, a fresh green smell. Oak is the Russian preference, with larger, tougher leaves that move more air and last longer. Eucalyptus is added to either for the scent. Whichever it is, it should be leafy rather than twiggy, and tied tight enough that the handle does not come apart when wet.
Reviving a dried whisk
Most whisks are sold dried. Soak in cold water for half an hour or so, then in hot water for a few minutes before use, and the leaves soften and the smell comes back. Do not boil it, which cooks the leaves off. A revived whisk is good for several sessions if you rinse and dry it between them.
Keeping the cabin tidy
Leaves come off, especially from a whisk near the end of its life, and they will end up on the benches and the floor and occasionally on the stones, where they scorch. Use it over the floor rather than over the bench, sweep after, and retire a whisk when it is shedding more than it is moving air.
Questions people ask about sauna whisk
What is a vihta?
The Finnish name for a sauna whisk: a tied bundle of leafy birch branches used to move hot air against the skin during a session.
How do you prepare a dried whisk?
Soak in cold water for about half an hour, then briefly in hot water. Do not boil it, which cooks the leaves off the stems.
Birch or oak?
Birch is softer with a fresher smell, oak has tougher leaves that move more air and last longer. Both are traditional.