An oxygen bar is an establishment offering non-medical, high-purity oxygen for recreational use, typically at concentrations ranging from 90% to 95%. This contrasts with ambient air, which contains 21% oxygen. Customers purchase short sessions to inhale the enriched air, often infused with various aromas, seeking perceived benefits like increased energy or stress relief. While the once-ubiquitous trend has faded from mainstream pop culture, oxygen bars continue to exist in specific, niche commercial environments.
Current Status and Typical Locations
The presence of oxygen bars today is highly localized, catering to particular consumer needs and tourist demographics. Their market has shifted away from general metropolitan novelty and toward environments where the service offers a specific form of relief. High-altitude destinations, such as ski towns and mountain resorts in the Colorado Rockies, represent a significant portion of the current oxygen bar market. Here, they cater to visitors seeking to manage or prevent the symptoms of altitude sickness, which results from the lower partial pressure of oxygen at elevation.
Oxygen bars are also commonly found in specialized wellness centers, spas, and health clubs, where they complement other relaxation or recovery services. In major metropolitan areas with high tourist traffic, they may still be seen as an experiential novelty integrated into venues like large casinos, upscale shopping malls, or nightclubs. This model allows them to operate as supplementary attractions within existing businesses, capitalizing on a steady flow of customers looking for a unique, short-duration experience.
The Oxygen Bar Experience and Operation
The experience at an oxygen bar begins when a customer selects a session length, which usually lasts between 10 and 20 minutes. The customer is then offered a choice of aromas, which are often described as “flavors” like peppermint, eucalyptus, or citrus. The actual process of breathing the enriched air is accomplished through a lightweight, flexible tube called a nasal cannula, which rests just inside the nostrils.
The technical operation relies on an industrial-grade oxygen concentrator that draws in ambient air from the surrounding room. This machine utilizes a technology called pressure swing adsorption to filter out nitrogen and other trace gases, concentrating the oxygen to purity levels often advertised as high as 95%. Before reaching the customer’s cannula, the oxygen is typically bubbled through water to humidify the gas and prevent nasal dryness. The chosen aroma is usually delivered via food-grade particles or essential oils added to this humidification water.
Scientific Evaluation of Recreational Oxygen
For a healthy individual with normal respiratory function, breathing supplemental oxygen offers no measurable physiological benefit. A healthy person breathing ambient air already maintains a near-maximal blood oxygen saturation, typically between 96% and 99%. This means the hemoglobin in the red blood cells is already nearly fully loaded with oxygen, leaving little capacity for additional oxygen to be absorbed into the bloodstream during short sessions.
The common claims that recreational oxygen can cure hangovers, boost energy, or reduce stress are not supported by long-term, controlled scientific studies. Any perceived feelings of refreshment or mental clarity after a session are largely attributed to the placebo effect, the relaxing environment, and the sensory input from the aromatherapy. Recreational oxygen is unregulated and non-prescription, which separates it distinctly from medical-grade oxygen, which is considered a drug and is regulated by agencies like the Food and Drug Administration.
While short-term inhalation of 90-95% oxygen is generally recognized as safe for healthy individuals, there are minor risks, particularly concerning the added aromatics. Pulmonologists advise caution, as inhaling essential oils carries the potential for inflammatory or allergic responses in the respiratory tract. Furthermore, people with pre-existing respiratory conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema should avoid oxygen bars, as excessive oxygen can negatively affect their breathing drive. The lack of regulation also raises concerns about inconsistent oxygen quality and hygiene standards, such as the proper sanitization of nasal cannulas between uses.