If you choose to store your cigars in the traditional method by using a humidor – don’t simply bring it home and drop in your cigars.  I would highly recommend not using the sponge a lot of humidors come with either.  We are better than that.  While cigar making hasn’t changed in hundreds of years – there are products being developed that make regulating the conditions inside your humidor fool proof.  Once of the most important things to do when using a humidor, is to season it.

WHY season a humidor?

There are a couple reasons.

1. Seasoning a humidor allows the wood inside to absorb moisture so it doesn’t suck it out of your precious cigars.  The idea is that the wood is at the same moisture level as you wish to keep your cigars, keeping them in ideal conditions.

2. As the wood inside the humidor absorbs the moisture, the wood slightly expands – this will help the seal of the humidor preventing air leaks which would dry the humidor out.

One method I highly DON’T recommend, is wetting the inside of the humidor – known as the “wipe-down” method.  Doing it too quickly can actually cause it warp, which ultimately can ruin the seal of the humidor which will make it nearly impossible to regulate.   Cigars are a time honored practice from the growing process all the way through to the final product so don’t rush.

HOW do you season a humidor?

84% Pack Designed for Seasoning a Humidor

A sure-fire method is using Boveda’s 84% humidity packs.  I can’t get behind Boveda enough.  It’s a two-way humidity control system that does a lot of the work for you.  These packs are designed to release humidity to a specified level, 65%, 69%, 72%, etc.  If conditions inside the humidor rise above a desired level, the packs will absorb the excess humidity. (https://bovedainc.com/)

Seasoning a humidor with Boveda’s seasoning packs can’t get any easier.  Depending on the size of your humidor, place one or a few of the packs inside (an empty humidor, if there are wooden trays, leave them in).  Close the lid and then wait two weeks.  It’s as easy as that.  Be patient as it is a slow process, but it ensures that all the wood inside evenly absorbs the moisture.

After two weeks you just remove the packs and replace them with whatever desired level you want to store your cigars and you are good to go.  Boveda states that after two weeks with the 84% packs will raise the moisture to 65%.  Personally, I store my cigars at 65% since I usually enjoy cigars with thick, dense wrappers and I find it helps with combustion and overall enjoyment.  So if you want the moisture level in the humidor to be higher, then wait a little longer.

Humidors require maintenance and even re-seasoning from time to time.

Depending on where you live, the climate – outside conditions like heat and humidity, you may need to adjust the packs to a higher or lower % to keep it at your desired levels.  Storing your cigars though, is an entirely different subject and there are many ways to do so effectively. Make sure to keep an eye out for “How to Store your Cigars” Coming soon.