The History of Sacred Bathing Rituals and Yoni Steaming
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Across the world, women have gathered in the quiet of temples, gardens, and homes to honor their bodies with steam, fragrance, and sacred waters. From the lotus-filled baths of ancient Egypt to the flower fumigations of Mesoamerica and the perfumed steaming stools of Korea, yoni steaming, fumigation, and sacred bathing rituals reflect a timeless devotion to feminine health and beauty. More than postpartum care, these traditions offered pathways to sensual enjoyment, spiritual purification, and the fragrance of the divine. To follow their history is to trace a map of how cultures across time wove flowers, herbs, and steam into ceremonies of healing and celebration.
In this post, we will journey through the history of steaming and sacred bathing as it appears across cultures and centuries. Our timeline begins where so much of human story does — in Sub-Saharan Africa, where long-standing oral traditions of ritual baths, fumigations, and flower steams were interwoven with fertility rites, marriage ceremonies, and postpartum healings.
Ritual to Reality
How to Steam Safely
Before delving into the sacred history of this divine feminine practice, please read the guidelines below carefully:
Flowers are biologically active and can cause irritation or allergy. Always patch-test an infusion on the inner forearm and start with a mild, low-temperature steam.
Never put essential oils or resins directly in a yoni steam.
Always use the soft petals of flowers and herbs for yoni steaming; avoid woodchips, bark, or stems, as these can create harsher heat that may irritate delicate vaginal tissues.
Do not yoni steam if pregnant or on your period. Steaming can cause your Blood Moon Cycle to have a larger flow if practiced on days of spotting or bleeding.
Don’t insert anything into the vagina under the assumption of cleansing. Steam and sacred bathing are external only.
sitting sacred
The Throne
Not all thrones are created equal. These are our favorites for turning your steaming ritual into a moment of indulgence, comfort, and sacred care.
Classic Wooden Throne ($85.00)
Timeless, sturdy, and natural — crafted from smooth, polished wood for a grounding, ritual-ready experience. Perfect for traditional chai-yok or gentle steaming sessions.Black Electric Yoni Throne ($127.00)
Modern elegance meets sacred practice. This throne gently warms water for consistent steam, eliminating the need for a stove, and features a removable stainless steel bowl for effortless cleaning. Sleek, black, and thoughtfully designed, it combines convenience with ritual focus, making every yoni steaming session both simple and sacred.Temperature Control Yoni Throne ($289.00)
Designed by Leiamoon, this throne offers temperature-controlled yoni steaming, facial steaming, and LED light therapy, making every ritual safe, indulgent, and rejuvenating. Endorsed by OBGYNs as the safest choice for yoni steaming, it elevates both body and spirit in one beautifully engineered experience.
Africa
The origin of sacred bathing rituals such as yoni steaming, fumigation, and flower petal washes can be traced to Oshun, the Goddess — or Orisha — of fresh waters, rivers, and streams in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ruling over the purest waters as well as love, beauty, sensuality, fertility, wealth, and prosperity, Oshun is even called the orisha of steam in some traditions. In Yoruba myth, when creation faltered, it was Oshun’s flowing waters that restored balance and allowed life to flourish. This mirrors the gift of yoni steaming: restoring moisture, warmth, and sacred flow to the inner river — the passage which carries all life through the birth canal.
Herbs & Flowers Associated with Oshun
Steaming & Bathing
Calendula (calendula officinalis)
Gentle, soothing, skin-healing.African Marigold (tagetes erecta / tagetes spp.)
Antimicrobial, cleansing, ceremonial scent flower.Sunflower (helianthus annuus)
Uplifting, radiant, Oshun’s golden flower.Hibiscus (hibiscus sabdariffa / rosa-sinensis)
Cooling, soothing, beautifying.
Mucilaginous qualities soothe tissues.
not suitable for steaming
Cinnamon (cinnamomum verum bark)
Warming, circulation-enhancing, aphrodisiac.Honey (apis mellifera honey)
Moisturizing when added to bathwater.
The Goddess of Fresh Waters, Rivers, Streams, Love, Beauty, Sensuality, Fertility, Wealth, and Prosperity.
Vaginal steaming has been recorded for various purposes by the Masaai tribe in Kenya, and in countries such as Zimbabwe, Somali, and Eritrea, as postpartum care in Angola, Congo, Ghana, by traditional qablas (midwives) in Morocco, and as daily hygiene by the nomadic Himba tribe in Namibia.
Documentation focuses on herbal fumigation and steaming for marriage rites, fertility blessings, general cleansing, and beautification before ceremonies across many regions. Scent and herbs have always played a large role in feminine hygiene and attractiveness in Africa with herbs used in steam or baths to impart a sweet, floral or resinous smell, to soothe any irritation, and to tone the skin. While explicit written records are fewer, oral tradition records that these baths were part of beauty rituals, especially before weddings or festivals.
Beyond herbs specifically sacred to Oshun, African tribes were likely to use:
Steaming & Bathing
Acacia Blossoms (acacia nilotica, a. senegal, a. karroo)
Sacred in many African cosmologies; fragrant, cleansing, and linked to love and union rites.Jasmine (jasminum sambac)
Revered by women of the Maasai tribe for fragrance, used to prepare the body for love, intimacy, and reunion with returning tribal hunters.
not suitable for steaming
Myrrh (commiphora myrrha)
Ancient ceremonial resin used for sacred fragrance and smoke cleansing.
Egypt
Egypt became the dynasty where sacred practices rooted in the indigenous tribes of Africa were refined and woven into daily life along the river of the Nile. Egyptian women celebrated and elevated these rituals of sacred bathing, making them central to devotion, beauty, and feminine power. Closely associated with goddesses such as Isis and Hathor, these fragrant baths were immortalized by Cleopatra’s legendary recipes for beauty and rejuvenation. Whether for postpartum care, personal pleasure, or spiritual alignment, Egypt’s sacred bathing traditions reveal a profound understanding of how water, scent, and ritual could awaken the sacred flow within.
Steaming & Bathing
Lotus (nymphaea caerulea, n. lotus, n. alba)
Sacred to Hathor and Isis; associated with rebirth, beauty, sexuality, and ritual intoxication.Rose (rosa damascena, rosa gallica)
Symbol of love, sensuality, and healing; prized in Egyptian perfumery and sacred baths.
not suitable for steaming
Frankincense (boswellia sacra, b. carterii, b. frereana)
Fragrant resin used for purification, sacred smoke cleansing, and temple rituals.
Sumer
In the fertile lands between the Tigris and Euphrates, the Sumerians cultivated some of the earliest known sacred bathing and fumigation practices. Women and priestesses used fragrant herbs, flowers, and resins to purify the body, honor the divine, and prepare for life’s transitions, from fertility rites to marriage ceremonies. Ritual spaces often blended water, steam, and sacred smoke, creating environments where the physical and spiritual intertwined. While many herbs served practical and medicinal purposes, others were chosen for fragrance and spiritual potency, demonstrating a profound understanding of how scent, heat, and ritual could awaken the senses and connect the body to the divine.
Steaming & Bathing
Juniper (juniperus communis, j. excelsa)
Smoky, protective, purifying; berries and wood burned in rites to banish evil. Steam in small amounts only.Mint (mentha spp.)
Cooling, cleansing, offering to the gods; burned, steeped, or steamed for sacred refreshment.Thyme (thymus vulgaris)
Antiseptic, uplifting, protective; used in ritual, temples and medicine.
not suitable for steaming
Coriander (coriandrum sativum)
Fragrant, purifying, sacred to Ishtar; used in incense, oils, and burial rites.Myrrh (commiphora myrrha)
Bittersweet resin, sacred fumigant of temples; for healing and divine communion.Frankincense (boswellia sacra, b. carterii, b. frereana)
Burned for prayer, smoke cleansing, and divine connection.Cedar (cedrus libani)
Sacred tree associated with purification, protection, and temple rituals. Resin and wood were burned as incense.
Greece
In Greece, the art of fragrant bathing and herbal ritual intertwined with philosophy, medicine, and devotion to the gods. Sacred groves of laurel and olive framed the landscape, while women and priestesses turned to roses, myrtle, and sage to honor Aphrodite, Artemis, and Demeter. Baths and steams were not merely for cleanliness but for harmony of body and spirit — an idea carried forward by Hippocratic medicine, which emphasized the healing powers of aromatic plants. From the perfumed oils of the symposium to the ritual fumigations of the oracle, Greek traditions reflected a deep belief that scent, flame, water, and herb could open the way to beauty, fertility, and divine connection.
Steaming & Bathing
Rose (rosa damascena, rosa gallica)
The flower of Aphrodite, used for beauty, sensuality, and womb health.Violet (viola odorata)
Symbolic for the sweetness of love, associated with Aphrodite, Persephone, Demeter. Soothing and fragrant.Myrtle (myrtus communis)
Sacred to Aphrodite, symbol of love, beauty, and rebirth. Used in bathing, fumigation, and bridal rites.Chamomile (matricaria chamomilla, anthemis nobilis)
Grown wild, used medicinally for relaxation and menstrual discomfort.
not suitable for steaming
Myrrh (commiphora myrrha)
Strongly linked to Aphrodite due to the the myth of Myrrha and Adonis.Laurel (laurus nobilis)
Crown of Apollo, purifier of body and spirit. Steeped for cleansing, victory, and prophecy.Sage (salvia officinalis)
Considered protective and purifying. Used in fumigation and smoke cleansing sacred spaces.Thyme (thymus vulgaris)
Symbol of courage and vitality. Aromatic smoke cleansing for respiratory invigoration.
Mesoamerica
Among the Maya, Aztec, and neighboring cultures, sacred steam found its fullest expression in the temazcal — a dome-shaped sweat lodge heated with volcanic stones, herbs, and prayers. Here, women sought postpartum recovery, menstrual balance, and spiritual renewal, while midwives used steam to ease birth and restore vitality. Bathing and steaming were not only practical hygiene but also acts of devotion, aligning body and spirit with cosmic cycles. Flowers like marigold and cacao blossoms, along with resins such as copal, infused these rituals with fragrance and symbolic power, bridging the human body to the divine order of sun, earth, and ancestors.
Steaming & Bathing
Marigold (tagetes, cempasúchil)
Sacred to life, death, and renewal. Strongly fragrant, cleansing, and ceremonial. Used for purification and beauty.Plumeria (plumeria spp., frangipani)
Velvety, intoxicating fragrance beloved in Maya and Aztec ritual life. Blossoms used for devotion and allure.Dahlia (dahlia spp.)
Cultivated in Aztec gardens for both ornament and medicine. Symbolic of elegance and endurance.Water-Lily (nymphaea spp.)
Aquatic jewel of Maya cosmology. Associated with rebirth and visionary states, infused sacred water baths and ritual rinses with otherworldly presence.
not suitable for steaming
Copal (bursera spp.)
Sacred resin of Mesoamerica, burned to bridge the worlds of human and divine. Its white, fragrant smoke purified temples, bodies, and offerings, carrying prayers skyward and sanctifying ritual space.Basil (ocimum basilicum)
Fragrant guardian, often burned to banish negativity. Its cleansing smoke carried both protection and blessing, a household ally in daily rites of purification.Rosemary (salvia rosmarinus)
Sharp, resinous smoke believed to drive out illness and stagnant energy, consecrating both body and dwelling with clarity.
Korea
In Korea, women refined the art of yoni steaming into both a personal and communal ritual known as chai-yok, a ritual that transformed simple heat and herbs into a ceremony of renewal. Here, women are believed to have pioneered the use of purpose-built thrones, seats designed to cradle the body while fragrant steam rose upward.
These spaces transformed ordinary rooms into sanctuaries, where fragrant herbs, flowers, and water merged into healing vapors. Steaming was practiced for postpartum recovery, menstrual balance, and intimate pleasure, but also for beauty, relaxation, and spiritual alignment. Indigenous herbs like mugwort, Korean angelica, and chrysanthemums infused the steam with gentle warmth and aromatic potency, turning each session into a ritual of renewal, cleansing, and feminine empowerment.
Steaming & Bathing
Lotus (nelumbo nucifera)
Sacred blossom of purity and rebirth, soft fragrance, beautifying, gentle aphrodisiac.Chrysanthemum (chrysanthemum morifolium)
Traditionally used for clarity and beauty. Anti-inflammatory, gentle, aromatic, cooling, and soothing.Camellia (camellia japonica / c. oleifera)
Symbol of eternal beauty. Used for skin softening and floral scent.Mugunghwa (rose of sharon, hibiscus syriacus)
Associated with resilience and grace, soothing. Culturally important to Korea as their national flower.Peony (paeonia spp. / p. lactiflora / jayu-bot)
Known as the queen of flowers, celebrated in art and medicine for fertility, blood flow, and beauty.Magnolia (magnolia denudata / mok-ran)
Elegant, fragrant spring blossom linked to purity, love, and feminine power.Mugwort (artemisia princeps / ssuk)
Warming, cleansing, and balancing to the womb. Cornerstone herb in Chai-yok, beloved in Korean medicine and ritual.Korean Angelica (angelica gigas / cham-dang-gwi)
Deep purple roots revered for restoring vitality, circulation, and feminine balance.
Use caution as steaming with this herb may be too stimulating for sensitive users. Best in blends, not solo.
Japan
Steeped in a culture where water and blossoms were seen as mirrors of the soul, Japan developed bathing and steaming rites that intertwined with a deep reverence for purity, beauty, and seasonal blossoms. While not as explicitly medicalized as in Korea, floral baths and fumigations became woven into life passages, particularly weddings and festivals, where the body was cleansed and adorned with scent before union or celebration. Cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums, and camellias — flowers central to Japanese identity — were scattered into waters or gently steamed for their fragrance, symbolizing renewal, harmony, and transience. Here, the practice leaned toward the aesthetic and ceremonial: a way to honor both body and spirit by aligning them with nature’s fleeting beauty.
Steaming & Bathing
Cherry Blossom (prunus serrulata / sakura)
Ephemeral flower of spring, symbol of renewal and transience. Often floated in baths for beauty and celebration.Chrysanthemum (chrysanthemum morifolium / kiku)
Imperial flower of Japan, associated with longevity and purity. Used in baths and festivals for soothing.Camellia (camellia japonica / tsubaki)
Beloved blossom of eternal beauty, cherished for hair and skin softening.Peony (paeonia lactiflora / botan)
Sumptuous bloom of wealth and honor, cultivated in temple and garden rituals.Magnolia (magnolia obovata / hō-no-ki)
Elegant, fragrant bloom of purity and feminine strength.
not suitable for steaming
Iris (iris ensata / hanashōbu)
Linked to protection and purification in seasonal rites. Reserved for water rituals; leaves steeped in baths.
Cambodia
In Cambodia, especially during the Heian and Medieval periods, sacred bathing traditions have intertwined with the rhythms of temple life, festivals, and personal rites of passage. Women used fragrant flowers and herbs to honor the spirits, celebrate fertility, and prepare for marriage ceremonies, creating baths and steams that were both restorative and celebratory. Jasmine, lotus, and frangipani were particularly prized for their delicate aroma and symbolic resonance, infusing the waters with a sense of purity, sensuality, and divine blessing. These floral rituals emphasized connection — to body, community, and the sacred — transforming ordinary water into a vessel for spiritual and physical renewal.
Steaming & Bathing
Jasmine (jasminum sambac / sampaguita)
Fragrant, delicate flower symbolizing purity, love, and spiritual devotion. Often scattered in baths or lightly infused for ritual aroma.Lotus (nelumbo nucifera / tompa)
Sacred aquatic blossom representing rebirth, purity, and spiritual awakening. Used in temple rituals, baths, and ceremonial rinses.Frangipani / Plumeria (plumeria spp.)
Velvety, intoxicating blooms used in offerings, weddings, and festival baths.Chrysanthemum (chrysanthemum indicum / krouch)
Cooling, calming flower with ties to longevity and ceremonial purity.Rose (rosa spp.)
Symbol of love, beauty, and grace; often infused in oils and floral waters for bathing rituals.Cherry Blossom (prunus serrulata / sakura)
Delicate, ephemeral flower associated with renewal, purity, and fleeting beauty.
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