HSE Cedar Sauna Bucket & Ladle (4L, Red Cedar)

In a guided round the bucket is the host’s workbench: it holds the scented water, and the ladle sets the pace. This HSE set is a low, wide red cedar pail – 10 in (25.4 cm) across, 1 gallon (4 L) – with a rope handle and a 14 in (35.6 cm) ladle carved from a single piece of cedar. The scoop holds about 3.4 fl oz (100 mL), which suits the slow, measured pours a guided session is built on: three scoops come to roughly 10 fl oz (300 mL), about a mug of water.

A form-fitting plastic liner sits inside over a wooden bottom and holds the water. For a host that liner is useful: scented water does not soak into the staves, and the bucket rinses quickly between two rounds with different scents. The maker notes that color and grain vary from bucket to bucket.

Tip: Do not fill it to the top. About half a bucket per round is plenty, and it leaves room to stir the scent in without slopping water onto the floor.