Infrared or traditional, cedar or aspen, four-person or two — the right answer depends less on the brochure and more on how the ritual actually fits your week.
Traditional saunas heat the air around you, usually 80–100°C, using a stove — that's the intense, dry heat most people picture. Infrared saunas heat your body directly at a lower ambient temperature, generally 45–65°C, which many people find easier to sit in for longer sessions, especially daily ones.
Capacity matters more than it seems on a spec sheet. A four-person cabin sees far more use in a household of two who occasionally host, but a couple who only ever uses it themselves is often happier with a compact two-person cabin closer to the house.
Wood species affects both feel and maintenance. Cedar is aromatic and naturally resists moisture; thermally treated aspen stays cooler to the touch at high heat, which matters if you sit in shorts rather than on a towel.
Whatever you choose, a short consultation before ordering — covering your space, your household's actual routine, and your electrical setup — tends to prevent the two most common regrets: a cabin that's slightly too small, and a stove that isn't rated for daily use.
Luxury Lifestyle Advisor
