A humidor is the traditional container in which almost all avid cigar smokers store their cigars. With the right equipment (see below), your humidor will maintain the proper relative humidity and temperature. There is a virtually limitless variety of humidors available ranging from very economical to very expensive, from travel size to tabletop, from end table and even to tall cabinet models. Following are two key components to look for when purchasing a humidor:
This is the most important part of a humidor. If it doesn’t seal well, the humidity will escape, and your cigars will dry out. For desktop models, you should hear a slight whoosh of air when you drop the lid from at least the halfway open height. You can also test the seal by placing a dollar bill half in, half out of the humidor, then close the lid. Now, try to tug the bill out. If the seal is good, the bill will drag the humidor several inches. If the bill slips out easily, the seal is not as tight as it should be.
Regardless of what material the outside of the humidor is made of, the inside should be lined entirely with Spanish cedar. This fragrant wood works well in humid conditions because it absorbs moisture and retains it without warping. Moreover, it won’t impart negative flavors or aromas on the cigars – you want the flavor of the cigar not the container. Spanish cedar is also resistant to cigar beetles (a.k.a. tobacco beetles); that’s essential, as an infestation of cigar beetles can destroy your collection. Although it’s extremely rare, beetles can hatch in your cigars, but they won’t get into the wood.
It’s recommended you buy a humidor that is somewhat bigger then the number of cigars you pan to store inside of it, and here’s why: First, you need enough headroom to compensate for the hygrometer and humidifier, or other humidification devices that may require placement either underneath the lid, or inside the humidor. Second, you need room for air circulation. So, if your collection at the time of your humidor purchase is 40 – 50 cigars, consider a humidor that holds at least 75 cigars. This will allow air to circulate around the inside of the humidor, keeping your cigars more evenly humidified. Keep in mind wider ring gauge cigars, like Robustos, Toros and Churchills will take up more room than thinner ring gauge cigars, like Coronas, Lonsdales and Lanceros. Finally, once you really get into premium cigars, you may find your collection growing faster than you imagined, so you’ll already have the extra space to accommodate them.
Where should you place your humidor in your home or office? It should be away from a window or glass door since direct sunlight can cause heat to build-up in the box. Even lamplight can increase the temperature, so don’t place your humidor directly under a light, either. If you live in a region where you experience cold winters, keep the humidor away from windows or doors. Drafts of cold, dry air may find their way into the humidor and lower the humidity inside. Put the humidor in a place that’s cool (but not cold), somewhat shady, and where it won’t be disturbed. Avoid using it to prop up another object, and don’t set drinks or other objects on top of it. Keep in mind that a good humidor is also a fine piece of furniture.
Before you put your precious primos in your humidor, it needs to be seasoned. This process makes sure the relative humidity inside is at the correct level from the beginning so your cigars enter an ideal storage environment. For a step-by-step guide on how to properly season a humidor, watch this video:
Before putting cigars into your new humidor it is important that you season your humidor first. In this video find out why this is necessary, and how easily this can be done. [Get our Step-by-Step Humidor Seasoning Method]
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