The popularity of saunas is no doubt one of the reasons why Finns are the happiest people in the world-even during the winter. Of all the different types of saunas, to this day the smoke sauna is still considered superior by many, even though it's been around for centuries.
Yet, despite the smoke sauna's Finnish fame and popularity, there are very few English books detailing its fascinating origins or instructions on how to build one...until now.
Like a Finnish smoke sauna at sunset, that space is currently occupied by Building a Traditional Finnish Smoke Sauna, the first book of its kind written by experienced and professional log builder, Jarmo Hiltunen.
In Building a Traditional Finnish Smoke Sauna, Jarmo walks you through the detailed, strategically organized and practical instructions for building your very own log-framed smoke sauna, including:
site selection
sturdy stove creation
effective fire protection; and
much, much more
As a bonus, you'll learn about the ancient origins and evolution of Finland's iconic sauna culture, the fabled legend of its mysterious little guardian, and important, regionally specific, and impossible-to-translate-into-English terms such as löyly, kitku and siintyminen.
So, if you're looking for a book that details how to properly and safely build a traditional Finnish smoke sauna, with all of its woodsy, sooty, natural characteristics-a book written by someone who's "been there" and "done that"-you're in the right place.
"Finnish Smoke Sauna" is a book that presents the instructions for building a smoke sauna, which is unknown to many foreigners. However, the smoke sauna is the historical basis of all modern Finnish saunas. Because of this fact, the same structural characteristics can be adapted almost unchanged to any type of sauna if the local circumstances do not allow the construction of a real smoke sauna. For this reason, this book is an important aid for every builder of smoke saunas and modern saunas.
Risto Vuolle-Apiala, Architect and Smoke Sauna Researcher
Smoke sauna is the best sauna experience one can have. The original Finnish sauna has been also smoke sauna. There are only few books written about smoke sauna and it's construction and they all are sold out. Now Jarmo Hiltunen has been writing a detailed book that makes it possible to any one to build a Finnish smoke sauna. We at International Sauna Association ISA are glad to advertise this book and we hope that it is going to be used.
Risto Elomaa, President of the International Sauna Association ISA
