Humidor Guide

What should I look out for when choosing a humidor

Firstly, you should think about how many cigars you want to store and what you want to use the humidor for. If you want to take your cigars with you when travelling, we recommend either a cigar case or a travel humidor. Otherwise, if you are looking for a humidor for at home, we recommend a conventional humidor for open storage (not in boxes) of up to 150 cigars. If you want to store more cigars or cigars in boxes, we recommend a humidor cabinet.

The hygrometer - analogue or digital?

There are basically three different types of analogue hygrometers. Analogue hygrometer with metal spiral: This hygrometer is found in most humidors and, as the name suggests, the humidity is measured using a metal spiral. The spiral expands or contracts depending on the humidity. Unfortunately, these hygrometers are also among the least accurate and deviations of up to 40% are possible. In addition, these hygrometers are very difficult to calibrate, which is why we do not recommend using a spiral hygrometer.

Analogue hygrometer with real hair: This hygrometer uses real hair to measure the relative humidity. These are much more accurate, but require extensive maintenance. The hygrometer must be wrapped in a damp cloth every few weeks to prevent the hair from drying out. In addition, the expansion of the hair is logarithmic, which means that the measurement resolution is not equally accurate across all areas. For these reasons, this technology is not suitable for normal humidor operation.

Analogue hygrometer with synthetic hair: Here, the relative humidity is measured using a synthetic hair. This achieves a high level of measurement accuracy and is practically maintenance-free. Nevertheless, we recommend calibrating the hygrometer once a year.

Digital hygrometers: Digital hygrometers are available in very different designs. These hygrometers are relatively accurate, although you should not be dazzled by the digital display. Digital hygrometers offer a good alternative to hair hygrometers.

Humidifier - passive or active?

When selecting a humidifier, it is essential to consider the volume of the humidor. Select the humidifier so that it also brings the humidor to the desired relative humidity. An active device is recommended for a larger humidor or a humidor cabinet; a passive device can also be used for smaller humidors. In general, an active humidification device is better for keeping the climate under control. Depending on the device, an average humidity value can be read out over the past few days and the device indicates when new water needs to be added. There are two basic types of passive humidifiers. On the one hand, there are the classic humidifiers with a sponge. Here, the moisture is stored and slowly evaporates. On the other hand, there are humidifiers with polymer crystals that can absorb large quantities of water. The advantage of this technology is that it regulates the humidity itself between 70% and 72%. For this reason, we can highly recommend this technology.

What makes a good humidor?

In addition to an attractive design, a good humidor must have the following characteristics: The interior wood must be able to absorb moisture well. An interior made of cedar wood is an advantage. This wood is neutral in flavour and is ideal for storing cigars

The humidor should close well to guarantee constant humidity. If you want to store your cigars for a longer period of time, we recommend a humidor made entirely of wood or another opaque material. If you want to consume the cigars quickly, you can also use a humidor with a glass lid. However, it should be ensured that the humidor is not placed directly in the sun, as otherwise the cigars may lose quality due to the glass. You should also ensure that the humidifier is suitable for the humidor size and can release sufficient humidity. We recommend a relative humidity of approx. 70%, which should be kept constant.

How do I put my humidor into operation?

Before you fill the humidor with cigars, the correct humidity level (65-75%) must be reached. To do this, you should first moisten a cloth with distilled water and use it to moisten all the wooden components inside the humidor. Then place a glass of water in the humidor for approx. 3 days. This should allow the wood to absorb the necessary moisture. If the wood is not sufficiently moistened, there is a risk that the moisture will be extracted from the cigars.
Once the wood has been moistened, the humidifier can be placed in distilled water for approx. 5 minutes and then installed. Finally, the hygrometer should be calibrated and your humidor is ready to store your cigars.

Which water should I use for my humidifier?

It is generally recommended to use distilled water, as this prevents residues from remaining in the humidifier. If you are using an acrylic polymer humidifier, you must use distilled water, otherwise the humidifier may break. From a hygiene point of view, it is also advisable to use distilled water with silver ions.

What is the correct humidity?

The optimum humidity for storing cigars is between 65 and 75 % relative humidity. In such an environment, the cigar contains approx. 14% of its own weight in water. Humidity is also a decisive factor when burning cigars: if it is too dry, they will burn faster, if it is too wet, they will burn unevenly and may even go out.
If the humidity is below 65%, the cigars become brittle and acquire a bitter flavour when smoked.
If the humidity is above 75%, the cigars acquire a bitter and heavy flavour. If the humidity exceeds 80%, the cigars can rot and mould will form.

What is the correct temperature?

A temperature between 18 and 21°C is recommended. If the temperature rises above 24°C, there is a risk of worm infestation or rotting of the cigars.

Do I need to air my humidor regularly?

Cigars need oxygen and therefore the humidor should be opened briefly from time to time. We recommend opening the humidor briefly at least once every fortnight and closing it again immediately. A little tip: you can also use the opening to check the humidity. If you open the humidor in the meantime to remove a cigar, this is of course also sufficient.

How do I calibrate my hygrometer?

There are two different methods: Firstly, the hygrometer can be placed in a small, airtight plastic container. To do this, a shot glass filled with salt must be placed in the can and moistened with a few drops of water. The tin must now remain airtight for at least 8 hours. The humidity should then be exactly 75%. You can now set the hygrometer accordingly.
Alternatively, you can also wrap the hygrometer in a wet cloth. After approx. one hour, a relative humidity of 96% should have been reached. You can now set the hygrometer accordingly.

Important: Not all hygrometers can be calibrated. Before calibrating, check whether the hygrometer can be calibrated.

I have too low or too high a humidity

The humidity is too low: Firstly, you should ensure that the hygrometer is calibrated correctly. If the humidity is still too low, this may be due to the humidifier. To do this, check whether it is sufficiently filled with water. If normal tap water was used instead of distilled water, the pores of the sponge may become blocked. In this case, you must replace the sponge. If it is not due to the humidifier and the hygrometer, it is possible that the humidor is not closing properly.
The humidity is too high: Check whether the hygrometer is correctly calibrated.

My cigars are getting stains - mould or cigar blossom?

If the stains on the cigars can be easily removed with a cloth or a brush, they are cigar bloom caused by the normal ageing process. These are normal and do not affect the quality of the cigar. If the stains are blue-greenish and cannot be wiped off, it is most likely mould. In this case, you should remove the affected cigars from the humidor immediately and dispose of them. The unaffected cigars must be carefully wiped off and the humidor cleaned. Mould is usually caused by excessive humidity.

Can I revive cigars that have dried out?

In principle, it is possible to revitalise a dried-out cigar, but you will have to accept a loss of quality. To do this, gradually add a little more humidity to the cigar until it is back to approx. 70%. The cigar should be ready to enjoy again in about 2 weeks.