Put quite simply: the ‘Aufguss’.

In most aspects, gay saunas in Germany are the same as those anywhere else: the facilities are similar, the things you do in there are comparable as well. And while the cold weather is one extra reason to visit a sauna in Germany, what sets its saunas apart is the Aufguss.

We don’t have a word for this in English, because in our cultures it simply doesn’t exist. So what is it? Read on to find out.

The Aufguss has 3 ’rounds’ and in total lasts about 10 minutes. In each round, a copious dose of water is poured onto the hot rocks in the dry sauna, with one specific infusion in the water, be it lemon grass, eucalyptus, orange, or some other selection from a long list.

The ‘Aufguss Meister’ (Aufguss Master – how very German) will then slowly circulate this steam around the sauna, using either a towel (most common) or a big Chinese fan (see picture below), before giving you a much stronger wave of hot air with a flick of the towel directed right at you, and then going around the sauna to do the same to each guest, one by one.

A minute or two pause between rounds ensues. The higher up you are sitting, the hotter it will be. And if it gets too much, you can move down a row (provided there is space – the sauna gets pretty packed for the Aufguss), or you can leave, but this lets the steam out and is therefore the less ideal option and last resort.

All men normally sit starkers on their towel for the Aufguss, rather than with their towel wrapped around them, which makes it even hotter. Talking is often not permitted, to ensure the ‘wellness’ aspect of it, but this depends on the Aufguss Meister, as the gay sauna is often a less formal environment, where many people know each other and enjoy a bit of chitter-chatter, so many Aufguss Meisters don’t care.

If the feast for the eyes isn’t enough, the Aufguss is usually followed by a fruit platter and/or some beverages in the outdoor/ bar area. This is ideal, as jumping straight into a shower to cool down after the Aufguss is not recommended. The exception is the salt peeling Aufguss that is often included in the program. This includes an interval between the 2nd and 3rd rounds to go to the shower area, take some of the salt made available to you, find a friend, take turns rubbing it into each other’s back, rub it into the rest of your body (careful to avoid the really sensitive areas), and head back in.

If you’re wondering when you can experience the Aufguss, it’s usually written somewhere on the sauna’s website. As a general guide: Sunday is the most commonly scheduled day for it. Followed by a Saturday. And it’s possible they’ll have it on one night during the week. There will usually be 5 (give or take) sessions of it in the day, for example 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 p.m. And unless you’re having wild sex, you’ll hear the Aufguss Meister yell out the word “Aufguss” really loud. Guests mingling around the door is another cue. After everyone is in, a ‘no entry during Aufguss’ sign will be put on the outside of the door.

The Aufguss itself is not a practice exclusive to the German culture. As far as I know, it also exists in Scandinavian countries, and Russia. But the Aufguss in a gay sauna is something quite unique to Germany. Because despite being very liberal, gay saunas in Scandinavian countries are quite few and far between (at least that’s what my internet searches tell me). And gay saunas in Russia – well, I’ve never been there, but it doesn’t seem a coincidence that there are none advertised.

So, I hope you now have some understanding of the Aufguss, which is a little difficult to explain (I did my best), but is something that is very much worth experiencing, and is yet another good reason to come to Germany!

Feel free to leave comments below. And as always, all the best!