Anyone who has sat on a too-hot sauna bench knows why choosing the best wood for sauna building matters. The wrong timber burns your skin, oozes resin, cracks or turns black within a few seasons. The right timber stays comfortable to touch, smells clean and looks good for years.
For benches and backrests, one wood has become the standard in sauna factories across Europe: Ayous, also known as Abachi or Obeche. In this guide we explain why, how it compares with spruce, cedar, aspen and thermo wood, and what sizes and grades to order. We supply kiln-dried Ayous from Cameroon and the Congo Basin at Global Timber Trade Hub.
In short
- Sauna benches need wood that stays cool to the touch and has no resin.
- Ayous (Abachi) is light, low-density and conducts very little heat.
- It is resin-free, almost knot-free and very stable after kiln drying.
- Spruce and pine are fine for walls but release resin on hot spots.
- Cedar smells great but costs more and can irritate some users.
- Order Ayous kiln dried to about 8–12% moisture, in clear grade for benches.
What a sauna asks of wood
A sauna is a hard place for any material. Air temperature often reaches 80–100 °C. Humidity jumps when water hits the stones, then drops again. People sit directly on the wood, often with bare skin. So the ideal sauna timber must:
- stay cool to the touch, which means low density and low heat conductivity;
- contain no resin, which would bubble out and burn;
- be stable, so it does not crack, warp or twist with heat cycles;
- be smooth and splinter-free, for bare skin;
- have little or no smell, or a pleasant one;
- be free of knots, which get much hotter than the surrounding wood.
Why Ayous is the best wood for sauna benches
Ayous (Triplochiton scleroxylon) is a large tree from the West and Central African rainforest. Its timber has a rare combination of properties that suits saunas almost perfectly.
Very low density
Ayous weighs about 380–400 kg/m³ when dry. Light timbers have more air in their cells, so they conduct less heat to your skin. That is why an Ayous bench feels warm but not hot, even when the air is close to 100 °C.
Resin-free
Unlike pine and spruce, Ayous has no resin canals. Nothing will bubble out of the wood at high temperatures.
Clean, knot-free boards
Ayous trees grow tall and straight with long clear trunks. That gives a high share of knot-free boards, which matters because knots heat up more than the surrounding wood.
Stable after drying
Properly kiln-dried Ayous moves very little. Benches stay flat and joints stay tight through thousands of heat cycles.
Pale, even colour
Its creamy white to pale yellow colour gives a clean, bright look that suits both traditional and modern sauna designs.
Ayous vs other sauna woods
| Wood | Density (kg/m³) | Resin | Best use in a sauna | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayous (Abachi) | 380–400 | None | Benches, backrests, walls | Coolest to the touch, very stable |
| Spruce | about 450 | Yes | Walls, ceilings | Economical, but resin and knots |
| Nordic pine | about 500 | Yes | Walls | Resin can bleed on hot spots |
| Aspen | about 450 | None | Benches, walls | Pale, low smell; softer surface |
| Western red cedar | about 370 | Low | Walls, benches | Strong aroma; higher price |
| Thermo-treated wood | varies | Reduced | Walls, accents | Darker colour, more brittle |
Ayous vs spruce
Spruce is the classic Scandinavian wall cladding because it is cheap and easy to source in Europe. For walls and ceilings, it works well. For benches, it has two problems: resin pockets and knots. Both get uncomfortably hot. Many sauna builders use spruce for walls and Ayous for benches and backrests.
Ayous vs cedar
Western red cedar is light and has a strong, pleasant aroma. Some people love it; others find the smell too intense. A few users also react to cedar dust or oils. Cedar is usually more expensive than Ayous in Europe and the Middle East. If you want a neutral smell and a pale look, Ayous wins.
Ayous vs aspen
Aspen is also resin-free and pale, and it is a good bench wood. It is slightly denser than Ayous and supply of wide, clear boards can be limited. Ayous is usually easier to source in long, clear lengths for factory production.
Is Ayous the same as Abachi, Obeche and Wawa?
Yes. These are all trade names for Triplochiton scleroxylon. You will see “Abachi” in Germany and Northern Europe, “Obeche” in the UK, “Wawa” in Ghana and “Samba” in Ivory Coast. In Cameroon and Central Africa, it is sold as Ayous.
Where to use Ayous in a sauna
- Bench tops and slats: the most important place for a cool, smooth wood.
- Backrests and headrests: in direct skin contact.
- Heater guards: a cool surface around the heater adds safety.
- Wall and ceiling cladding: for a fully uniform, bright interior.
- Duckboards and floor grates: light and comfortable underfoot.
- Doors, frames and accessories: buckets, ladles and lamp shades.
Sizes and grades we supply
For sauna producers, we usually supply Ayous as:
- kiln-dried sawn boards, typically 27–52 mm thick, in random widths and lengths;
- clear (knot-free) grade for benches and backrests;
- a lower select grade for frames and hidden parts;
- planed bench slats and tongue-and-groove cladding to your profile, on request.
We can also supply Ayous in square-edged blanks for mouldings and furniture parts. Tell us your cutting list and we will tell you what is possible at the mill.
Moisture content matters
For sauna interiors, the wood must be properly dried. We kiln dry Ayous to about 8–12% moisture content. Wood that is too wet will shrink and crack in the heat. Wood that is stored badly after drying will pick up moisture again, so keep boards wrapped and indoors until you use them.
Finishing sauna wood
Inside the hot room, less is more. Most builders leave Ayous untreated, or use a special sauna wax or paraffin oil only on benches. Never use ordinary varnish, lacquer or paint inside a sauna: they can soften, smell and give off fumes in the heat. Outside the hot room, normal interior finishes are fine.
Durability: what to expect
Ayous is not a durable outdoor timber, and it should not be used outside without protection. Inside a sauna, where it dries out after every session, it lasts for many years. Good ventilation and letting the room dry with the door open after use are the keys to a long life.
Ayous for infrared saunas and steam rooms
Infrared cabins run at lower air temperatures, but the panels still get warm, so Ayous is a popular choice there too. For steam rooms and hammams, where wood stays wet for long periods, timber is not usually recommended for the walls. Use tiles or stone and keep wood for benches outside the wettest areas, or choose a durable species like Iroko.
Sustainability of Ayous
Ayous is one of the most common trees in the forests where we work, and it grows relatively fast. It is not CITES listed. We buy from concessions with valid harvesting permits and send legality and chain-of-custody documents with every shipment. Read more on our sustainability page.
Price of Ayous
Ayous is one of the most affordable African hardwoods. Price depends mainly on grade, thickness and drying. Clear kiln-dried boards cost more than mixed grades. See current price ranges in our guide to African hardwood prices.
Other light African timbers
If you are also building furniture, mouldings or interior parts, have a look at Frake (Limba), Ilomba and Okoume. Our guide to Okoume marine plywood explains the plywood options.
How to order Ayous for sauna production
Send us:
- thickness and grade, for example 27 mm clear kiln dried;
- width and length range, or your cutting list;
- whether you need sawn boards or planed profiles;
- annual or per-order volume;
- destination port.
Many sauna producers order a 40 ft container every few months. We can set up regular shipments so your production never runs out. Our export process page explains how it works.
Designing comfortable sauna benches
Good wood is only half of a comfortable bench. The other half is design. Most sauna builders use two or three bench levels, with the top bench about 100–120 cm below the ceiling. A bench depth of 50–60 cm lets people sit comfortably, and 60–70 cm is better for lying down. Leave gaps of about 10 mm between slats so air can circulate and the wood can dry quickly. Fix slats from below with hidden stainless steel screws, so no metal touches the skin.
Building a sauna for commercial use
Hotels, spas and gyms put saunas through far more sessions than a home user. For these projects, we suggest thicker bench slats, around 28–42 mm, made from clear-grade Ayous. Choose a design with removable bench sections so staff can clean underneath and replace worn slats easily. Ask us for extra boards from the same shipment, so repairs match the colour of the original benches.
Ayous beyond the sauna
The same properties that suit saunas make Ayous useful elsewhere. It is used for mouldings, picture frames, drawer sides, interior joinery, model making and as a core for veneered panels. Because it is light and easy to machine, it also suits musical instrument parts and display stands. Many of our customers fill a container with sauna boards and furniture blanks together.
Sources
- Triplochiton scleroxylon (Ayous) on Wikipedia
- Sauna on Wikipedia
- CIRAD Tropix for technical data on Ayous.
Related guides
- Buy African Ayous wood
- Okoume marine plywood
- African hardwood prices per m³
- How to import timber from Africa
- Sapele vs mahogany
Frequently asked questions about the best wood for sauna
Why is Ayous used in saunas?
It is very light, so it conducts little heat and stays comfortable to touch. It is also resin-free, stable and mostly knot-free.
Is Abachi the same as Ayous?
Yes. Abachi, Ayous, Obeche and Wawa are all names for Triplochiton scleroxylon.
Should I treat sauna benches?
You can leave them untreated or use a sauna wax or paraffin oil. Never use varnish or paint inside the hot room.
Can I use spruce for a whole sauna?
Spruce is fine for walls and ceilings, but knots and resin make it less comfortable for benches. Many builders combine spruce walls with Ayous benches.
Get a quote for sauna-grade Ayous
Send your thicknesses, grades and volumes through our quote form. We will reply with price, available stock and the next shipping date to your port.