Rituals

Every day, we have a number of exciting rituals in the saunas and steam rooms at The Well. These are inspired by spa traditions from every corner of the world, so that you can experience a whole world of wellness at The Well.

Aufguss

Aufguss is a German word meaning infusion. In an aufguss ritual, the sauna master places balls of ice containing essential oils on top of the sauna heater and pours water over the ice. The ice evaporates in the sauna, increasing the humidity in the air and the temperature.

The sauna master then circulates this warm, moist steam around the sauna using special twirling movements with a towel, often to music.

The aufguss rituals at The Well normally comprise three sessions during which the sauna master places the balls of ice and pours water over the sauna heater. As a rule, an aufguss ritual lasts around 15 minutes.

Essential oils in aufguss

The aufguss master adds essential oils balls of ice that are placed on the sauna stove. The oils vary between the different aufgusses. The essential oils have different effects on the body when you sit in the hot sauna. We therefore recommend that you try different aufgusses to experience the different effects of the essential oils.

Essential oils made from spices such as pepper, cardamom, ginger, star anise and cloves can give a warming sensation to the skin. These are warm spices and the oils have an energizing and stimulating effect on the body.

You also get an invigorating effect with essential oils containing eucalyptus, mint and juniper, and other herbs such as basil, oregano and thyme. When the ice melts on the sauna stove, the air feels fresh and almost cold to breathe in.

If you want a aufguss that opens well up your airways, we recommend participating in rituals where the aufguss master uses oils of citrus, such as bergamot, orange and citronella.

Essential oils made from resins, patchouli and flowers have a relaxing and soothing effect. These oils are often used on the last aufguss of the evening to give you a pleasant end to your spa day.

Hammam at The Well

The Hammam bathing ritual starts with a dry body scrub using a kese, a traditional scrubbing mitten. Scrubbing your skin is great for exfoliation and removing dead skin cells.

You then move on to the steam room where you apply a nourishing face mask. You spend 10-15 minutes in the steam room, before rinsing off and lying down on a heated marble bench.

The Hammam master then creates vast volumes of soapy foam made from olive soap. Soon, your entire body is covered in the thick soap foam. The ritual continues with soaping your body, a scalp treatment and a light body and scalp massage.

EXPLORE HAMAM

Rhassoul

Rhassoul is Moroccan ritual, and starts with a full body scrub using a coarse-grained salt scrub to exfoliate your skin. You then cover your entire body, face and hair with a clay mask. The clay is left to work on your skin for around 10 minutes while you are in the steam room, and is then rinsed off. The ritual concludes with a moisturising spray of orange blossom water. This spray is refreshing and can be used on both body and face.

The clay used for the Rhassoul ritual contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron, and it nourishes and moisturises the skin.

The Rhassoul ritual is a group ritual where you scrub your own skin and apply the clay mask yourself. You carry out the ritual without a swimsuit.

12 places / approx. 30 minutes/ NOK 245 per person

The Well spa kit

We have developed our very own spa kit, containing products from Scent of the Well Signature. The spa kit contains a cleansing gel for the face, a body scrub, a face peel, face mask and hair mask. The products are sold as a kit in a toilet bag. The kit also contains a wellness guide describing how and in what order to use the products.

The spa kit costs NOK 199 and is on sale in reception and at the Wellness Bar.