How to Use a Cigar Humidor?

A cigar humidor is a box or any type of container in which humidity levels are controlled in order to create an ideal environment for storing cigars or tobacco. In this simple guide, we'll tell you everything you need to know about using a humidor to keep your cigars in top condition.

To preserve the best flavor and intensity of cigars, they must be kept as close as possible to 21℃and close to 70% humidity. This is best done using a cigar humidor. 

Humidors are designed to simulate the environmental climate needed to keep cigars in top condition. Storing cigars in a cigar humidor will ensure that they mature over time. Just like fine wines, cigars are at their best when given a chance to age, but they must be stored properly at the right temperature and humidity or they will quickly lose freshness and quality.

Don't make the common mistake of stacking humidors full of cigars at once. It needs to be properly prepared to function properly.

Before you start preparing your humidor, make sure you have all the necessary materials on hand. These include:

1. Hygrometer (a device that measures humidity).

2. Distilled water.

3. Plastic bags.

4. Cloth.

5. Sponge.

If you prefer, you can choose to use a complete humidor kit, which includes everything you need to prepare your humidor before use.

You need to make sure that the hygrometer is properly calibrated to measure humidity. to this end:

1. Wet a cloth with warm water.

2. Wrap the hygrometer with a damp cloth. leave for half an hour.

3. Remove the hygrometer from the damp cloth.

4. Calibrate it to read between 95% and 97%.

5. If the hygrometer is already reading between 95% and 97%, it can be used without calibration

The next step in preparing the humidor is to clean it, if necessary. If your humidor is new, it probably doesn't need cleaning, but if it's been used before, you'll need to remove any tobacco.

To do this, simply spray the inside of the humidor with compressed air, then wipe the inside of the humidor with a soft cloth.

Next, you need to season the humidor.

1. Fully submerge the humidifier in a bowl of distilled water. Do not use tap water as it will damage the components.

2. Immerse the humidifier face down in the water for up to 3 minutes.

3. Remove the humidifier from the bowl and wipe off excess water.

4. Line the bottom of the humidor with a plastic bag.

5. Wet the sponge with distilled water and place the sponge on top of the plastic bag.

6. Place a hygrometer and humidifier on the lid of the humidor.

7. Close the lid of the humidor and leave it off for 12 to 24 hours. The longer you leave, the better.

8. Repeat the process.

9. The humidity level should now be between 65% and 75%, ready to store your cigars.

To ensure your humidor maintains optimal humidity, you need to charge your humidifier regularly:

1. Remove the humidifier from the humidor.

2. Using the grate, spray a professional humidification solution or pure distilled water into the humidifier. Use only a small amount of liquid as the purpose is to wet the humidifier, not saturate it.

3. Use a dry cloth to wipe excess solution from the front of the device.

4. Replacing the humidifier in the humidor lid.

To ensure your humidor is durable and functional, you need to take good care of it. Some handy tips include:

Store your humidor in a place where it cannot be knocked over.

Keep your humidor out of direct sunlight.

Clean the humidor with a soft cloth and beeswax polish.

Do not use water on the humidor as the wood will be damaged. A damp cloth will suffice.

An easy way to check if a cigar is in top shape is to press your thumb under the band. They should feel firm in the hand but spring back when you press them. If they don't spring back, then they're not humidifying enough. If they feel soft and spongy, they are over-humidified.

Excessive humidification can cause white powdery "flowers" to form on the cigar. While this is harmless, it is unsightly and can be easily removed. You can simply brush away the mold from top to bottom with a shaving brush or pastry brush.

If you don't smoke cigars often, make sure to rotate the cigar layers from top to bottom every now and then.

Do not store anything other than cigars in the humidor. Your lighter, cigar cutter, and any additional cigar accessories should be stored separately to avoid damaging your cigar.

The above briefly introduce you to some basic information on using a humidor to keep your cigars in the best condition. If you want to buy a humidor, please contact us.

Josoo is a professional custom humidor manufacturer with 15 years of experience. Our products are certified and reported by GS/CE/ETL/ERP/ROHS/REACH/DOE/CB. The product has an innovative patented design, which can meet the needs of different customized OEMs.