Our Story

February 2025. Our brand-new mobile sauna had just arrived, and we couldn't wait to fire it up.

As wood-fired sauna operators, we knew that great saunas require great fuel. So I did what anyone would do—reached out to friends for referrals and ordered what was supposed to be "seasoned" firewood from a local supplier.

What arrived was a lesson in disappointment.

The Reality Check

The wood was heavy with moisture, hissing and smoking instead of crackling with the clean burn a proper sauna demands. Two hours later—two full hours—we finally hit the bare minimum of 170°F. But the real problem wasn't the wait. It was the thick smog that filled our sauna, making it literally unbreathable.

I was convinced our new sauna was a lemon. Something had to be wrong with the fire stove.

Back to the friend network. Second supplier, same result—except this time they dumped the firewood directly onto my gravel driveway, leaving a mess that my driveway still hasn't recovered from.

My gravel driveway covered in bark and wood chips four months after delivery. Photo taken June 2025.

Same smoking problem, same frustration.

Third time's the charm? Not quite. This supplier wanted payment by check because they didn't have Venmo. And somehow, despite ordering a cord from each supplier, I was getting wildly different volumes of wood. Nothing added up.

Three strikes, and I realized the problem wasn't my sauna—it was an entire industry that had forgotten what quality and service actually mean.

A Better Way Forward

That's when we decided to fix it ourselves.

We created Knotorious to deliver what we needed but couldn't find: ultra-kiln-dried hardwood with less than 10% moisture content. This isn't just better wood—it's the difference between a sauna that takes hours to heat up and one that reaches perfect temperatures efficiently in 45 minutes. Between thick, choking smoke and the clean, intense heat that makes a sauna experience truly restorative.

But great wood is only part of the solution. We built a modern ordering system because paying by check in 2025 shouldn't be a thing. We deliver with precision and care because your property deserves better than becoming a dumping ground. And we provide exactly what we promise because transparency isn't optional—it's basic respect and integrity.

The Learning Curve

Determined to solve this problem, I started researching. I figured kiln-dried wood was kiln-dried wood, right? I grabbed some bundled kiln-dried firewood from the local gas station, thinking I'd finally cracked the code.

Wrong again. When I unwrapped those bundles, I discovered moisture condensating from the plastic wrap. The wood that was supposed to be "kiln-dried" was still damp. There were levels to this game that I never knew existed.

The Moment Everything Changed

That's when I finally tracked down truly high-quality, ultra-kiln-dried wood—properly processed and stored. The first time I used it in our living room fireplace, I experienced something that sounds almost silly to describe: I could actually feel the radiant heat from my couch—fifteen feet away.

I had never felt that before. Not once, in all my years of building fires.

That's when it hit me. This wasn't just about better firewood. It was about unlocking experiences that most people don't even know are possible.

But I was left feeling hopeful yet curious—was this problem bigger than just my own frustration? I decided to cold outreach a few wood-fired restaurateurs in the area. I spoke with Rafi Bildner from Hilltown Hot Pies and David Joseph from Boema Pizza. Both confirmed that these were known issues in our county. The inconsistent quality, the unreliable service, the lack of transparency—it wasn't just me. In many ways, I owe a debt of gratitude to both of them for taking the call and validating my experience. 

More Than Firewood

What started as our own frustration became our mission. 

We're here for fellow wood-fired sauna enthusiasts who demand the clean, intense heat that only properly dried wood can deliver. For wood-fired restaurant owners who need consistent, reliable fuel that enhances every dish. For the homeowner who doesn't want to break their back stacking firewood. To everyone who just wants a modern experience from a trusted local resident that will deliver what they say they are going to deliver.

Every cord we deliver is wood we're using in our own saunas, our own fireplace, our own gatherings. Every interaction reflects the service we wished we'd received. Every innovation comes from understanding what it's like to be on the other side of this industry's problems.