Humidor Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Smokes
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Okay, you've decided to upgrade from the ever-popular “Tupperdor” into a real humidor. But before you dump all your smokes into a box and call it a day, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind. In life, some things you can just “set it and forget it”, but cigars are not one of them. They take a bit more care if you want to enjoy your stick to the fullest.
If you can avoid these five humidor mistakes, you are well on your way to enjoying a well-deserved aged smoke.
The best wood for humidors is Spanish cedar. Why? Because Spanish cedar is excellent at absorbing and releasing moisture, so it's ideal for humidors, which need to maintain a static moisture level. It also smells quite nice and can often do you a favor and add some amazing flavor to your smokes.
Lastly, it pulls heat out of your cigars and may minimize the risk of cigar beetle eggs hatching. If you've never seen it happen, you better count yourself lucky. They can actually do quite a number on your collection.
Don't let the little buggers devour your smokes—that's your job!
If your humidor isn't sealing properly, it isn't going to be able to maintain an appropriate level of humidity and your cigars could be at risk of drying out. Glass top humidors tend to be the worst culprits here. If your humidor is constantly losing moisture, it may be a sign that you've got a leak somewhere.
The easiest place to test is the lid seal. Take a piece of paper and lay it across the rim, then close the lid on it. Can you move the paper easily, or is it firmly held in place? If it moves, your lid is probably failing to seal properly.
It pays to spring for a decent humidor. And while glass-top models might seem cool because they let you examine your collection without opening the humidor, we tend to prefer non-glass options.
Please, don't use tap water in your humidor. We're not going to judge you for not drinking glacial water from mountain creeks, but when it comes to cigars, there are good reasons to use propylene glycol or distilled water. The first is contaminants—tap water carries all kinds of stuff in it that can ruin your collection’s quality and clog up your humidor. Not only are propylene glycol and distilled water clean, PG solutions actually inhibit bacteria and mold from growing. Use the right stuff and change it every few months, and your cigars will be fresh as daisies (or at least, as fresh as fermented tobacco leaves can be).
Again, this isn't a huge point, but the foam is too hospitable to growing things inside it. Stick to crystals and keep things clean. We're not doing surgery in there, but that's no reason to promote contamination, right?
This could be a whole post on its own, so we won't go into the step-by-step instructions in this article. But our advice is to take initial seasoning seriously. We know you're eager to relocate your precious cigars into a nice, new, fancy box, so you can appreciate your collection, but these things take time! Give yourself a few days to get everything set up properly and your humidor will serve you well for years to come.
Cigars Direct is the best store online to purchase your favorite cigars and accessories. Shop for 50 count humidor models, 100 count models, and much more! Whether you're looking for a tabletop humidor or a more humble design, you can count on us to be your one-stop-shop for variety and convenience.
Check out our selection to find the perfect humidor for you.
If you can avoid these five humidor mistakes, you are well on your way to enjoying a well-deserved aged smoke.
1. Wood type
The best wood for humidors is Spanish cedar. Why? Because Spanish cedar is excellent at absorbing and releasing moisture, so it's ideal for humidors, which need to maintain a static moisture level. It also smells quite nice and can often do you a favor and add some amazing flavor to your smokes.Lastly, it pulls heat out of your cigars and may minimize the risk of cigar beetle eggs hatching. If you've never seen it happen, you better count yourself lucky. They can actually do quite a number on your collection.
Don't let the little buggers devour your smokes—that's your job!
2. Ensure a proper seal
If your humidor isn't sealing properly, it isn't going to be able to maintain an appropriate level of humidity and your cigars could be at risk of drying out. Glass top humidors tend to be the worst culprits here. If your humidor is constantly losing moisture, it may be a sign that you've got a leak somewhere.The easiest place to test is the lid seal. Take a piece of paper and lay it across the rim, then close the lid on it. Can you move the paper easily, or is it firmly held in place? If it moves, your lid is probably failing to seal properly.
It pays to spring for a decent humidor. And while glass-top models might seem cool because they let you examine your collection without opening the humidor, we tend to prefer non-glass options.
3. Use the right kind of water or solution
Please, don't use tap water in your humidor. We're not going to judge you for not drinking glacial water from mountain creeks, but when it comes to cigars, there are good reasons to use propylene glycol or distilled water. The first is contaminants—tap water carries all kinds of stuff in it that can ruin your collection’s quality and clog up your humidor. Not only are propylene glycol and distilled water clean, PG solutions actually inhibit bacteria and mold from growing. Use the right stuff and change it every few months, and your cigars will be fresh as daisies (or at least, as fresh as fermented tobacco leaves can be).
4. Go for crystal instead of foam
Again, this isn't a huge point, but the foam is too hospitable to growing things inside it. Stick to crystals and keep things clean. We're not doing surgery in there, but that's no reason to promote contamination, right?
5. Season it properly
This could be a whole post on its own, so we won't go into the step-by-step instructions in this article. But our advice is to take initial seasoning seriously. We know you're eager to relocate your precious cigars into a nice, new, fancy box, so you can appreciate your collection, but these things take time! Give yourself a few days to get everything set up properly and your humidor will serve you well for years to come.Cigars Direct is the best store online to purchase your favorite cigars and accessories. Shop for 50 count humidor models, 100 count models, and much more! Whether you're looking for a tabletop humidor or a more humble design, you can count on us to be your one-stop-shop for variety and convenience.
Check out our selection to find the perfect humidor for you.
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