Written by Timothy Munene, Senior Heat Therapy Writer. Expert contributor: Emily Buckley. Expert verified by Cayla Garcia, MScN, NBC-HWC. Fact checked by Louis Sepulveda. Last verified against Sun Home product pages on October 12, 2026.
Sun Home sells cedar and eucalyptus saunas, so we have a commercial interest in this comparison. Model facts on this page come from our current product pages. Wood properties come from independent references linked in each section. They are species reference values, not lab measurements of our panels.
The Short Answer
No. As of October 12, 2026, no current Sun Home sauna is built with hemlock. Solstice and Equinox cabins use kiln-dried eucalyptus. Eclipse, Pod and Nova 3 use Japanese cedar. Luminar uses Canadian red cedar and Nova 6 uses Canadian cedar. Eclipse and Pod were listed in Canadian hemlock until 2026. Both are now listed in Japanese cedar.
Sun Home Sauna Wood by Model
The table lists the wood published on each current product page for our infrared saunas and the Nova indoor traditional sauna, as checked on October 12, 2026.
| Model | Sauna type | Wood on the product page | Hemlock? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solstice 1, 2, 3 and 4 | Indoor far-infrared | Eucalyptus, described as kiln-dried | No |
| Equinox 2 and 3 | Indoor full-spectrum infrared | Eucalyptus, described as kiln-dried | No |
| Eclipse 2 and 4 | Indoor full-spectrum infrared with red light | Japanese cedar | No (listed as Canadian hemlock until 2026) |
| Pod | Indoor one-person far-infrared with red light | Japanese cedar interior, black exterior | No (listed as Canadian hemlock until 2026) |
| Luminar 2 and 5 | Outdoor full-spectrum infrared | Canadian red cedar interior, aerospace-grade aluminum exterior | No |
| Nova 3 | Indoor traditional | Japanese cedar interior | No |
| Nova 6 | Indoor traditional | Canadian cedar interior | No |
Our safety and materials page states "Solid wood, no composites," and the craftsmanship page lists the same wood for each model.
Why Sun Home Builds in Cedar and Eucalyptus, Not Hemlock
1. Hemlock carries the lowest decay rating of the four woods
The Wood Database rates western hemlock "non-durable regarding decay resistance" and gives eastern hemlock, which is also sold as Canadian hemlock, the same rating. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory states that hemlocks are "slightly or nonresistant to heartwood decay."
The Wood Database rates western red cedar "durable to very durable," Japanese cedar "moderately durable to durable," and rose gum eucalyptus "durable to very durable."
Rot needs moisture, and a sauna supplies it. An infrared cabin heats with dry air, but its benches, backrests and floor take sweat in every session, and a traditional sauna adds water on the stones.
A decay rating is not a lifespan. It describes the natural resistance of the heartwood, and a USDA Forest Products Laboratory research note cautions that "marked differences in decay resistance may occur in heartwood of the same species, and even of the same tree." How long a finished sauna lasts also depends on construction, ventilation, drying between sessions and care. The rating is the part set by the species, so it is where we start.
2. Cedar heartwood carries natural antimicrobial compounds
Cedar's decay resistance is chemical. Researchers writing in Wood and Fiber Science attribute western red cedar's decay resistance to tropolones, toxic extractives in its heartwood. The best known are the thujaplicins. In a Journal of Chemical Ecology study, western red cedar extract was among the most active of seven conifer heartwoods tested against a plant pathogen, and hinokitiol (beta-thujaplicin) was one of the three most active compounds.
Japanese cedar has its own. A Journal of Wood Science study isolated two compounds from sugi heartwood, sandaracopimarinol and ferruginol, that showed moderate antifungal activity and strongly inhibited Gram-positive bacteria. With one exception, they did not inhibit Gram-negative bacteria.
The limits matter. These are laboratory results on extracts and isolated compounds from western red cedar and sugi, not tests of finished sauna boards, and we have not run microbial tests on our own panels. Read this as a property of the wood, not a hygiene claim for the sauna. It does not replace routine cleaning.
3. Cedar adds aroma, and eucalyptus is a hardwood
The Wood Database describes western red cedar's "strong, lingering, aromatic scent" when worked and Japanese cedar's "distinct, lingering, cedar-like odor." Western hemlock has no characteristic odor. Eucalyptus is a hardwood: rose gum, a widely planted commercial species used here as the example, is listed at 1,260 lbf on the Janka scale against 540 lbf for western hemlock. Our product pages do not name the eucalyptus species, so that figure is a reference value, not a Sun Home specification.
4. Changing a cabin's wood later is rarely practical
Heaters, control panels and glass can be serviced or replaced. Changing the wood a cabin is built from generally means replacing the cabin, so it is where we choose not to economize. Every model in the table above lists cedar or eucalyptus.
Hemlock vs Cedar vs Eucalyptus: Reference Values
Our product pages publish trade names, not botanical names. This table uses western red cedar as the reference for the Luminar's Canadian red cedar, sugi for Japanese cedar, and rose gum as a labeled example for eucalyptus, whose properties vary by species. The Nova 6 is listed in "Canadian cedar," a name that does not identify a single species, so no column here should be read as its specification. Figures are from the Wood Database pages linked above, checked October 12, 2026. They are species reference values, not specifications of Sun Home panels.
| Property | Western red cedar | Japanese cedar (sugi) | Rose gum eucalyptus (example species) | Western hemlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Thuja plicata | Cryptomeria japonica | Eucalyptus grandis | Tsuga heterophylla |
| Wood type | Softwood | Softwood | Hardwood | Softwood |
| Decay resistance rating | Durable to very durable | Moderately durable to durable | Durable to very durable | Non-durable |
| Janka hardness | 350 lbf | 320 lbf | 1,260 lbf | 540 lbf |
| Volumetric shrinkage, green to oven-dry | 6.8% | 10.5% | 15.5% | 12.4% |
| Odor | Strong, lingering, aromatic when worked | Distinct, lingering, cedar-like | No characteristic odor | No characteristic odor |
| Common uses listed | Shingles, exterior siding, boatbuilding, boxes, crates, musical instruments | Siding, paneling, furniture, fencing, boatbuilding | Flooring, millwork, furniture, boatbuilding | Boxes, pallets, crates, plywood, framing |
The hemlock column is western hemlock. The Wood Database lists the name Canadian hemlock under eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), which carries the same non-durable rating, with 500 lbf hardness and 9.7% shrinkage.
The three non-hemlock reference species in this table are rated above both hemlocks for decay resistance. On hardness the picture is split: rose gum is more than twice as hard as western hemlock, while both cedars are softer, so cedar is chosen for its decay rating, aroma and heartwood compounds, not for hardness.
Why Budget Saunas Use Hemlock
Budget saunas use hemlock because it costs less. That is why it is easy to find at the low end of the infrared market. It is also the wood with the lowest natural decay rating of the four compared here.
- A manufacturer's own rating. LeisureCraft, a sauna manufacturer, rates hemlock's cost "Budget" and its natural rot resistance "Low," against "Premium" cost for western red cedar, in its sauna wood guide. The guide steers buyers away from hemlock outdoors.
- A current listing. The Dynamic Barcelona, a 1 to 2 person far-infrared cabin listed at $2,099 on the brand's own store on October 12, 2026, is described there as "Natural hemlock wood construction."
What the Price Premium Works Out to Per Year
If a cedar or eucalyptus sauna costs more than the hemlock sauna you are comparing it with, spread the difference over the years you expect to own it:
Premium per year = (price of the cedar or eucalyptus sauna minus price of the hemlock sauna) divided by years of ownership.
| Price difference (illustrative) | Years of ownership (illustrative) | Premium per year | Premium per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $600 | 10 | $60 | $5.00 |
| $2,400 | 15 | $160 | $13.33 |
These inputs are illustrations, not quotes. The result is the total price premium between two saunas, not the cost of the wood: saunas that differ in wood usually differ in size, heaters, electrical requirements and warranty as well.
How to Check What Wood a Sauna Is Made Of
- Find the species by name. "Natural wood" and "premium wood" are not species. Look for hemlock, cedar, eucalyptus, basswood or another named wood on the product page or spec sheet.
- Check interior and exterior separately. Some cabins use one material inside and another outside, as the Luminar does.
- Ask about solid wood. Ask whether any plywood, particleboard or MDF is used in the cabin.
- Confirm the current spec in writing. Wood can change between production runs. Ours did. Ask the seller to confirm the species for the unit that will ship.
For Sun Home models, the wood is listed under Key Features on each product page, for example the Eclipse 2, the Pod, the Luminar 5 and the Equinox 2.
Did Sun Home Ever Use Hemlock?
Yes, and recently. The Eclipse 2, Eclipse 4 and Pod were built in Canadian hemlock, and their product pages listed hemlock as recently as August 2026. Assembly guides for those units are still published under Previous Editions on our assembly and shipping page, labeled "Canadian Hemlock units." The current product pages for all three list Japanese cedar.
We moved those models to cedar for the reasons above. We have not published a changeover date or serial range. If you own an Eclipse or Pod and are not sure which edition it is, match it to the assembly guide for your unit or contact us with your order details. Coverage for earlier units is set out on our warranty page.
Some older articles on our site describe the earlier hemlock editions of the Pod or the Eclipse. Where an older article and a current product page disagree about wood, the product page is the current specification.
Is Cedar or Eucalyptus Better Than Hemlock for a Sauna?
On natural decay resistance, the reference data says yes. Western red cedar, Japanese cedar and rose gum eucalyptus are all rated above hemlock, which is rated non-durable. Cedar heartwood also contains compounds with antimicrobial activity in laboratory studies of extracts, and it has the aroma hemlock lacks. Rose gum is more than twice as hard as western hemlock. These are species reference values, not measurements of Sun Home panels, and a rating does not by itself predict how long a finished sauna lasts. Hemlock's advantage is price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What wood is the Sun Home Eclipse made of?
The current Eclipse 2 and Eclipse 4 product pages list Japanese cedar. The Eclipse was listed in Canadian hemlock until 2026.
What wood is the Sun Home Pod made of?
The current Pod product page lists a Japanese cedar interior with a black exterior. The Pod was listed in Canadian hemlock until 2026.
How do I know whether my Eclipse or Pod is hemlock or cedar?
Check the assembly guide for your unit. Guides for the earlier editions are labeled "Canadian Hemlock units" on our assembly and shipping page. If you are still unsure, contact us with your order details.
Is hemlock a bad wood for a sauna?
It is the budget option. Both commercial hemlocks carry the lowest natural decay rating of the woods compared here: The Wood Database rates them non-durable, and the USDA Forest Products Laboratory rates hemlocks slightly or nonresistant to heartwood decay. A rating does not by itself predict how long a finished sauna lasts, but it is the reason we do not build with hemlock.
Is cedar antimicrobial?
Cedar heartwood contains natural compounds with antimicrobial activity in laboratory studies: tropolones such as the thujaplicins in western red cedar, and two compounds from Japanese cedar that inhibited fungi and Gram-positive bacteria. These are results on extracts and isolated compounds, not on finished sauna boards, and they do not replace routine cleaning.
Is cedar or eucalyptus harder than hemlock?
Rose gum eucalyptus, the reference species used on this page, is harder: it is listed at 1,260 lbf on the Janka scale against 540 lbf for western hemlock. Sun Home's product pages do not name the eucalyptus species, so that is a reference value, not a Sun Home specification. Western red cedar (350 lbf) and Japanese cedar (320 lbf) are softer than hemlock.
I am sensitive to cedar scent. Which Sun Home sauna should I look at?
Start with Solstice and Equinox, which are eucalyptus, not cedar. Our product pages do not name the eucalyptus species or describe its scent, so ask us about it before you order. The cedar models are aromatic, and the Wood Database links western red cedar wood and sawdust to a higher rate and severity of allergic reactions than other commercial woods, particularly occupational asthma. That evidence concerns working the wood, not sitting in a finished sauna.
Bottom Line
No current Sun Home sauna uses hemlock. Solstice and Equinox are eucalyptus. Eclipse, Pod, Luminar and Nova are cedar. Hemlock is the budget wood, and we do not build with it. Compare every model in our home sauna collection.
Sources and Verification
- Sun Home product pages for Solstice, Equinox, Eclipse, Pod, Luminar and Nova, plus the craftsmanship, safety and materials, and assembly and shipping pages. Wood values read October 12, 2026.
- The Wood Database species pages for western hemlock, eastern hemlock, western red cedar, sugi (Japanese cedar) and rose gum. Read October 12, 2026.
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory technical sheet for Tsuga heterophylla (western hemlock), Internet Archive copy of July 11, 2023.
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory, "Comparative Decay Resistance of Heartwood of Native Species," Research Note FPL-0153, January 1967.
- DeBell, Morrell and Gartner, Wood and Fiber Science, 1997 (tropolones and decay resistance in western red cedar).
- Manter, Kelsey and Karchesy, Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2007 (antimicrobial activity of conifer heartwood compounds).
- Matsushita and colleagues, Journal of Wood Science, 2006 (antimicrobial heartwood compounds of sugi).
- LeisureCraft sauna wood guide, published July 2, 2026. LeisureCraft sells cedar saunas, so read it as a manufacturer's view.
- Dynamic Saunas Direct, Barcelona product page. Price and wood description read October 12, 2026.
What we have not done: we have not run decay, hardness, shrinkage, microbial or service-life tests on our own panels, and our product pages do not name botanical species or give a moisture-content figure. If either changes, this page will be updated.