Cigar Humidors Explained From A to Z

If you smoke cigars regularly then you need a high-quality humidor - it's THE essential storage device for cigars, cigarettes, and pipe tobacco. A humidor is not just a stylish and convenient storage box - its primary purpose is to control the humidity and temperature of your cigars to preserve their quality, flavor, and aroma.

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In the below guide, I answer a range of questions including what does a humidor do, how does a humidor work, and why do cigars need a humidor.

What is a Cigar Humidor?

First, let’s start with a basic introduction. A humidor is a storage box typically used for cigars, tobacco leaves, and cigarettes. It’s not just a storage container though and it contains a range of components that allow the internal humidity and temperature to be controlled.

Humidors come in many shapes and sizes ranging from small, portable humidors for travel use, to walk-in humidors that cigar bars usually have. With these walk-in humidors, a room is essentially converted for cigar storage with a complex humidity control system installed.

How Does a Cigar Humidor Work?

As you will see below, cigar humidors have several important components to control the humidity of your cigars, these include:

• Humidifier
• Thermostat
• Hygrometer
• Storage element

They work together so that you can control the humidity and achieve ideal levels of between 65-72% together with a temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This humidity and temperature range preserves your cigars and maintains the flavor, quality, and aroma for longer.

Components of a Cigar Humidor

To the uninitiated, a cigar humidor may look like a simple wooden box. Still, they are so much more than that and have an array of features specifically designed to maintain the humidity and quality of your cigars. Below, I explain the main components of cigar humidors:

Humidifier

The humidifying component is hugely important and the traditional system includes a foam sponge soaked in a solution of 50% water and 50% propylene glycol. This is then stored inside a container and capillary action allows the liquid solution to be released into the humidor to maintain a desirable humidity level.

Thermostat

Aside from humidity, it’s also essential to control the temperature of your cigars, and a general rule of thumb is to achieve a constant temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is done via a built-in thermostat that allows you to change the interior temperature.

Spanish Cedar

Traditional wooden humidors are typically made from Spanish Cedar which is the perfect material as it has a range of important characteristics that help the preservation of your cigars:

• Greater moisture retention compared to other wood types.
• Resistant to cupping and warping at higher humidity levels.
• It can enhance the aroma of your cigars.
• Prevent an infestation of tobacco beetles.

There is no other wood that is as beneficial for cigar storage but it also looks incredible too. A classic humidor with a gorgeous cedar wood construction will stand out and make a statement when you want to share a cigar with your friends or coworkers.

Hygrometer

The final critical component is the hygrometer and this is a simple device that accurately measures the humidity levels inside your humidor.

This is essential as without the correct humidity and moisture, the tobacco inside your cigars will become dry and lose its flavor and aroma. Humidors have either classic analog hygrometers or more modern digital displays.

Why Do Cigars Need to be Kept in a Humidor?

So, what’s all the fuss about using a humidor and why is the humidity important? Simply put, without these controls, the tobacco inside your cigars will become dry and lose its flavor and aroma. This, in turn, means you won’t get the same pleasure, satisfaction, and enjoyable experience as you would from a fresh cigar.

Tobacco grows in certain conditions and the humidor essentially allows you to recreate these conditions and replicate the climate where the plants thrive. Benefits of using cigar humidors include:

• Keeping the tobacco fresh.
• Maintaining the flavor and aroma of the cigars.
• Preventing the growth of mold.
• Elegant storage solution.

Consider this - without a humidor, an unwrapped cigar typically lasts for just three days before it becomes dry and stale. In contrast, when kept in a humidor with proper humidity and temperature controls, cigars can last for years and still smell and taste fresh.

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How to Choose a Good Cigar Humidor?

You should now have a clear idea of what does a humidor do, but how do you choose the right one?

As you can see, at Northwoods humidors we have a superb collection of cigar humidors and you may feel overwhelmed by the volume of choice. To help, I have listed the main features to consider below when choosing your perfect cigar humidor:

• Size: There are typically four categories of humidors which relate to their size - walk-in (entire storage rooms), cabinet (essentially a piece of furniture), desktop (the most common size - can sit on a coffee table), and travel (much smaller for portable use). Think about how many cigars you usually keep, and which size is suitable for your needs.
• Quality control: It’s important to assess the quality control features of cigar humidors. Look at the features it has and make sure it includes humidity control, a hygrometer, and temperature control. Also, look at the type of humidity control so you know how often you need to change it to maintain the quality of your cigars.
• Design: Cigar humidors also make a statement and you want one that appeals to you from a stylistic viewpoint. You can go for a classic wooden design, or maybe you prefer a modern design made with different materials like metal, acrylic, or plastic.
• Storage: Lastly, consider how many cigars you want to store, and look at the storage compartments inside the humidor. Does it have dividers so you can store different cigar brands? How many cigars can you fit inside?

With these factors considered, you should easily be able to browse our selection of high-quality cigar humidors and find something suitable!

Of course established aficionados know this, but for those cigar lovers who are just getting into their passion a cigar humidor is a must. Once you make the investment in a cigar humidor there really is no turning back. You are in the grips of a wonderful pastime, my friend, and like a wine connoisseur you need to educate your palate. That means tasting and trying a variety of cigars that you need to safely store in a protective environment. Enter the humidor.

Keep Your Humidor Tip-Top

Once you make the investment in a cigar humidor there really is no turning back. And with a cigar humidor comes humidor accessories. After all, you want to keep your humidor in tip-top shape as it does house some pretty precious cargo. By knowing which accessories you need and how to use them you’ll make sure your humidor and the cigars within are in the best possible order. Of course there are different accessories based on the type of humidor you own and not all of them are necessary. However there are some you shouldn’t do without. Some add to the glamor of your newfound passion while other accessories are vital to keeping your cigars in the best smokable condition. Let’s have a look at the top accessories to keep your humidor in tip-top shape.

Check our Elie Bleu humidors and accessories selection.

1. Hygrometer

OK this one is non-negotiable. The hygrometer is the heart and soul of your humidor. It determines the relative humidity inside your box and helps you maintain the appropriate level to prevent degradation to your cigars. Most humidors come with a built in hygrometer and that’s fine. Be sure you calibrate your hygrometer often for best results. Otherwise the built-in hygrometer works most efficiently and is often preferable for maintaining humidity levels because of its placement as the humidor box was constructed.

2. Humidor Solution

Seasoning your humidor is the most important step in keeping it in tip-top shape. And it seems like there are just as many methods for seasoning your humidor as there are humidors. Some cigar lovers with an opinion on the practice may suggest an elaborate process using a few different solutions and others may suggest a wipe down of the humidor’s interior with water and a sponge. While every humidor is unique they all share some similar properties, that being certain components that manage keeping your cigars out of harm’s way. To that end the wood inside your humidor must absorb enough moisture in order to maintain the relative humidity. This can vary depending on the area of the country where you live. 

Desert climates are much drier and the southeast or tropical areas are much more humid. Most humidors have Spanish cedar lining. This wood has a naturally pleasing fragrance and, as a cedar, is an insect repellant. That means your stogies won’t fall prey to the horrible tobacco beetle. Cedar also keeps away fungus like mold or mildew and because it regulates moisture inside the box it is ideal to keep your humidor in tip-top shape. That is, if it is seasoned appropriately. Seasoning a humidor isn’t difficult but it is somewhat involved. Each manufacture has their own recommendations for the seasoning process so begin there, or use our guide here. 

You may use your own solution with distilled water but never, ever use tap water. Tap water is treated with chlorine and other chemicals and also contains impurities that will damage your stogie stash as well as your humidor. For best results, especially if you are new to owning and maintaining a humidor, use a professionally premade solution. Again, refer to your manufacturer’s recommendations.

3. Calibration Kit

Calibrating your hygrometer is a very necessary part of humidor maintenance. As such you will need to stay on top of it. Your hygrometer, as we mentioned previously, is the most important tool in keeping your cigars at the appropriate relative humidity (68%-72%) inside the humidor. If the humidity levels are off you risk moisture and mold infiltrating your stogie stash or a too-dry environment rendering your cigars equally unshakable. 

Experienced cigar humidor owners may refer you to a method known as the “salt test”. This involves testing your hygrometer by using damp salt, which renders a reading of 75% relative humidity under specific conditions. Read about it here. We think those newbies and even the more experienced cigar lovers will fare better using a trusted Boveda One-Step Hygrometer Calibration Kit. 

The kit removes the guesswork that may accompany the salt test. The Boveda Kit is highly accurate and dependable (so much so that it’s used regularly in laboratory settings by professional chemists when calibrating instruments) and works with both analog and digital hygrometers. And it’s backed by the Boveda name.

4. Humidor Sensors

Having a humidor sensor is a wonderful way to obtain peace of mind peace of mind. We offer a few different options but we like the accuracy and-ok, the “techie” bells and whistles- of the Sensor Push HT1n Humidity/Temperature Smart Sensor. This device provides up-to-the-minute data via your smart app. Powered by Swiss made components the Smart Sensor takes readings every minute. The data is stored for up to two weeks. And it is accurate within 0.5° F and 3% relative humidity. We also feature the Xikar Purotemp Wireless Hygrometer with remote sensor and base unit. 

The base unit has the technology to read ups to three separate units in different locations and is the ideal choice for someone with multiple humidors. The unit alerts you if your conditions are less than acceptable. Trust the Experts at Northwoods Humidors

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