About Elemental Works
We are a small business based in Eugene, Oregon, totally in love with small wood soaking tubs. Our products have evolved through years of design, trial and error, and feedback from our passionate customers.
Most of the Western Red Cedar we use is grown and milled in our area or nearby. Everything we make is by hand and every product is unique. Currently we build our tubs made-to-order with specs determined by the customer.
Our goal is to share our love of this uniquely accessible and friendly soaking experience with anyone that enjoys a deep chemical-free soak without the complications of a larger traditional hot tub.
The Inspiration
An ofuro is a traditional Japanese soaking tub that is used for relaxation and healing purposes. It is typically made of wood and is deeper and smaller than a standard bathtub, allowing for a more immersive and intimate bathing experience. In Japanese culture, the ofuro is considered a form of meditation and is often used to promote physical and mental relaxation, as well as to promote a sense of well-being.
An ofuro and a hot tub are not the same thing, though we have developed a hybrid that features our favorite parts of both.
Like ofuros, our tubs are smaller and deeper than traditional hot tubs, and they do not have jets or require the chemicals used in larger hot tubs.The tubs we build are designed for one or two people to sit in and soak.
While Japanese tubs are usually made from the cedar family (which includes cypress, also called hinoki in Japanese), our tubs are made from cedar and rely on a clear external fiberglass wrap to keep it water-tight and structurally sound.
An important difference is that Ofuros are typically indoors and filled with water temporarily like a bath while our tubs are designed to work always-on, able to hold hot water continuously like a standard hot tub.
Our Origins
During the pandemic winter of 2020-2021, we created our first tub out of plywood and epoxy resin, based on the content’s of this Mother Earth article. The soak was such a great experience that we went on to build a higher quality version with cedar available to us in Oregon. After friends lined up to order their own, we decided to go all-in as a business to share this awesome experience as a more simple and, we believe, luxurious soak.
Our tubs offer an alternative to larger acrylic or fiberglass jetted hot tubs. Some of the benefits include better aesthetics, smaller footprint, easier to move when empty, and easier to maintain due to the lower volume of water.
We like to see these smaller, personal wood tubs as the next step in our cultural evolution of soaking. As the Mother Jones article sums it up, “Back when Yuppies were “in”, a hot tub was the pinnacle of western civilization. It was letting go of inhibitions of the 60s, partying of the 70s and materialism of the 80s. Now though, we have the Karma of the 90s. Somehow (probably due to all that collected karma), group hot tub experiences have faded from popularity, but it still feels good to sit in hot water to soak away the stress and tension of the day.”
Get In Touch
Contact us for questions or to start and order.