Choosing between Nordic Spruce and Japanese Cedar
Both woods perform identically in the sauna; the choice is look, scent and budget. Decision framework included.
Both woods perform identically in the sauna. Same wall thickness, same insulation, same hardware, same heater. The choice is look, scent and budget.
Choose Nordic Spruce if
- You want a deep charcoal, architectural look
- You want a milder scent during sessions
- You want the standard wood option
Choose Japanese Cedar if
- You want a soft, sweet scent that opens up with the heat
- You prefer the warmer reddish-brown tone with pink undertones
- You value the natural rot resistance from the wood's own oils
- You want the wood of Japanese temples and bathhouses, used in hot, wet rooms for over a thousand years
If you want the warm wood room of a Japanese bathhouse and a gentle scent with the heat, choose Japanese Cedar (Sugi). If you want a clean modern aesthetic with the mildest smell, Nordic Spruce is the right pick.
For full wood details, see Sections 2.5 and 2.6.