Caring For Your Humidor

During the pandemic, I was convinced that as soon as we were able, people were going to seek an experience driven life. What better way to enjoy and appreciate each moment than with a premium handmade cigar?  Whether it’s alone or with friends, enjoying a cigar is a beautiful way to create a very special memory.

It would appear that many of you agree with me, as the number of relatively new or “returning” cigar smokers we’ve had coming into the store seems to be on the rise.  In addition to those new to cigar smoking, many aficionados have been expanding their collections and buying a second, third or fourth humidor. Last month, we posted a Humidor Buying Guide to provide some insight on how to select a humidor, and now we want to help you properly season and care for that humidor.

When a customer purchases a humidor in the store, we always instruct them on how to properly season it before they leave.  Having that conversation feels a little bit like being the Grinch.  Remember when you were a little kid, and had just unwrapped a shiny new toy only to discover that before you could play with it, your parents would have to help you put it together? Or find the batteries they didn’t realize it would need?

It’s that same look on many customers’ faces when they realize they can’t just go home and load up their new humidor with cigars.  That said, we all know good things come to those who wait!

Seasoning a humidor is a crucial step in creating the right environment to store and age cigars.  It is literally called “seasoning” because you are creating the right climate “season” (72% humidity / 72°F) inside the box.  By allowing the Spanish Cedar inside your humidor to first absorb moisture, you are helping create a better seal for your humidor and ensuring that as you move forward, the humidity is getting into the cigars that need it versus the wood.

The internet is full of misinformation about the “right” way to season a humidor. At Georgetown Tobacco, we recommend the following:

Humidors with Traditional Humidifiers and Lined with Spanish Cedar or Mahogany:

1. Fill the humidifier(s) with distilled water.
2. Allow the humidifier(s) to rest for about 10 minutes to absorb the water.
3. Flip them over onto a dry towel, and let the rest another 10 minutes.
4. Stand the humidfier(s) vertically and allow to rest a few more minutes to ensure no water is dripping out.
5. Dry them off, and place them in your humidor.
6. Keep the humidor empty and shut for 2 to 3 days.
7. Once the hygrometer has reached the acceptable range, start loading in those cigars!
   • The perfect reading on a hygrometer is 72% humidity. Analog hygrometers may not be that accurate, so if the reading is between 65% and 75%, it’s probably fine. Over time, you’ll be able to tell from the feel of your cigars if you need to adjust or recalibrate your hygrometer.
8. At this initial stage, refill your humidifiers once more as they’ve lost a lot of their moisture in the seasoning process.
9. Refill your humidifiers once every 3-4 weeks, or adjust accordingly if at high altitudes or desert climates.

Humidors Using Boveda Packs and Lined with Spanish Cedar or Mahogany:

1. Purchase the appropriate Boveda Humidor Seasoning Pack for the size of your humidor (the 320g works for most).
2. Allow the Boveda to rest inside the humidor for up to two weeks.
3. Once the hygrometer has reached the acceptable range, start loading in those cigars!
   • The perfect reading on a hygrometer is 72% humidity. Analog hygrometers may not be that accurate, so if the reading is between 65% and 75%, it’s probably fine. Over time, you’ll be able to tell from the feel of your cigars if you need to adjust or recalibrate your hygrometer.
4. Replace the seasoning pack with the appropriate number of 72% Boveda packs. You generally want to use one for every 25 cigars your humidor can store.

BUT I NEED IT TO WORK NOW?!?!

If you must, you can speed up the process by resting a small bowl of water inside the humidor along with your humidification device.  We do not recommend wetting down the wood directly, as hyper-saturation can cause the cedar lining to expand and could possibly damage the humidor and its seal.

Other helpful tips:

1. Be sure to keep your humidor out of direct sunlight, strong indoor lights, and even moonlight.
2. Do not store near a radiator or air conditioning vent.
3. To clean the exterior, use a clean microfiber towel.
4. Keep your humidor at least 2/3 full of cigars to best maintain humidity.
5. If storing cigars long term, rotate them every few months (from top to bottom, etc.)
6. Cigar cellophane is a two-way permeable substance. It’s a personal preference to remove it or not before storing.

Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send an email to info@gttobacco.com. Congratulations on your new humidor, and we wish you many years of enjoyment and new memories!