Cigars 101: What Is A Humidor?

So what Is a humidor exactly? A humidor is a humidity-controlled container – either a box or room – that holds cigars and tobacco, keeping them fresh and flavorful for an extended period of time. A humidor can exist on its own as a portable travel device, something the size of a jewelry box, or as a built-in feature of a room or shop. 

Large or walk-in humidors exist, primarily in tobacco shops or cigar bars. These large rooms are kept at the perfect temperature with the proper humidity level to keep all the products safe and secure until purchase. 

It serves a functional purpose, but the humidor also adds a certain level of class and sophistication to your lifestyle.

So What Is A Humidor Doing Exactly?

The humidor is a humidity-controlled box that works by keeping a relative humidity level and temperature ideal for tobacco products. 

The humidor does this with a protected interior that creates a closed environment where your tobacco can exist without danger of moisture or dehydration imbalances. The ideal environment for cigars is regulated by a built-in humidifier that maintains a steady percentage of around 70% relative humidity. 

While the humidifier is the most essential part of the humidor, other critical features aid in ensuring your tobacco keeps an ideal moisture and flavor profile while residing in your humidor. 

Humidor parts & features

The essential parts for your humidor all function together to make sure your tobacco won’t go bad. One of the worst things anyone can experience is a ruined cigar that they’ve been looking forward to for days or even a week. 

The essential parts that make such a magical feat possible include:

• The humidifier: it regulates the humidor to keep an even 70% relative humidity at all times, the perfect percentage for tobacco products. Humidifiers can come as:
  • A sponge
  • Floral foam
  • Crystal gel
  • Electronic

• The hygrometer: a handy little feature that measures the humidity levels, so you know when to adjust the moisture levels a bit. 

• The thermostat: just like the one in your house, the thermostat tells you exactly what temperature your humidor is resting at all the time. 
• The wood: the wood that the humidor is made of is one of the most essential parts of the humidor, as it helps regulate and maintain the ideal environment.

Humidor Tips and Tricks

Keeping up with your humidor will give the products inside a better chance of survival. Following a few essential tips should make humidor care easy. 

• Humidity: The proper humidity for cigars is about 70%. Checking your moisture levels regularly will help keep your humidor functioning at its best. You won’t have to worry about the cigars absorbing too much moisture. And you won’t run into the issue of them drying out, either. 

• Wood: If you want to get a humidor, consider getting one with interior fittings made of Spanish cedar. This is the traditional wood used for the inside of a humidor because it works to regulate things like the temperature and humidity. It’s a bit absorbent, so excess water or moisture runs less of a chance of ruining your cigars. It also helps keep specific bugs away from your humidor. 

Is A Humidor Necessary?

A humidor is an excellent feature for any smoking room or study. It adds a certain level of elegance that other trinkets simply cannot match. And it plays a convenient purpose in keeping your cigars fresh, flavorful, and full of life. 

A humidor is not necessary, however. There are other ways to keep cigars fresh, some remarkably simple. 

Keeping your cigars in a jar with moisture packets is perhaps the easiest way to ensure they don’t go wrong. And of course, you can always smoke them before they have a chance to get old. 

However, if you’re looking for the best way to preserve the life of your cigars, then a humidor is undoubtedly the best possible solution. It doesn’t take up much room, and many high-functioning ones are not expensive. 

So while a humidor is not necessary, it is valuable and practical if you find yourself storing multiple cigars at a time. And it’s a fun addition to a cigar hobby. 

Humidor Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Will Cigars Last in A Humidor?

Cigars can last for years in a humidor and leaving your cigars in the humidor for extended periods of time is recommended before enjoying them. While cigars may go stale after about a week or two on their own, they can last for a long time in a humidor.

If you have a quality humidor your cigars can continue to age and improve flavor. In fact, some cigar experts prefer waiting ten years before they ever touch their cigars. While you don’t have to keep this as a general rule of thumb, it’s good information for the connoisseur.

Are Humidors and Cigar Boxes Different?

Accordion SamYes, humidors and cigar boxes are vastly different. We’ve talked extensively about what a humidor is and how it works. It boils down to this: a humidor is a special, practical, environmentally-controlled box that keeps your cigars fresh for a long time.

A cigar box is simply a box that holds cigars. Sometimes cigars are sold in multiple pairs, meaning they will likely come in a box. And often, you can purchase novelty cigar boxes from tobacconists or antique shops.

While a cigar box does hold cigars, it does not have the same features that a humidor has. It can’t regulate the humidity or the interior temperature, meaning it can’t preserve the cigars.

They also lack the proper seals to keep the temperature regulated. So leaving your cigars in the box won’t keep them fresh or flavorful as a humidor will. ple Description

What Can I Use Instead of A Humidor?

If you want to keep your cigars fresh but don’t smoke enough to invest in a nice humidor, then there are a couple of other options that should work just fine.

One great solution to the humidor question is using a jar or an air-tight container. If it has a good seal, it should work with no issues. You can purchase moisture packs from any place that sells cigars and store them in the container with the cigars.

You can also use plastic kitchen storage bags if you want. This is not as ideal as using an air-tight container, but it will do the job if necessary. Adding moisture packets to the bag will help keep the cigars fresh longer.