A premium cigar is a natural product. The tobacco leaves continue to react to their environment even after the cigar has been rolled and packaged. This makes humidity and temperature essential.
A cigar stored incorrectly can become too dry, too moist, difficult to light, difficult to draw, prone to uneven burning, and less expressive in flavor. So, once you begin buying more cigars than you intend to smoke immediately, an important question appears: how should you store them? The traditional answer is: in a properly stabilized humidor.
1. What Is a Humidor?
A humidor is a container designed to keep cigars in a controlled-humidity environment. It may be a small box for a few cigars, a desktop humidor, a cabinet for a larger collection, or a walk-in humidor used by specialist retailers. The objective is always the same: to maintain a stable environment for tobacco.
Many traditional humidors are lined with Spanish cedar, a wood widely used in the cigar industry.
2. What Is the Right Humidity for Cigars?
In cigar storage, you will often see relative humidity levels in approximately the 65–72% RH range. However, there is no single perfect number for every cigar and every smoker. Many enthusiasts prefer approximately 65–70% RH, which can provide a good balance between storage, draw and burn characteristics.
More important than obsessing over one exact number is stability. Repeated and sudden swings in humidity can negatively affect cigars.
3. What Temperature Should a Humidor Be?
Temperature should remain moderate and as stable as possible. Avoid storing cigars near radiators, windows exposed to direct sunlight, powerful heat sources, or areas with large temperature swings.
A simple principle is: moderate temperature + stable humidity + no direct sunlight.
4. Why Not Simply Keep Cigars in a Drawer?
A normal drawer does not control humidity. Indoor humidity can change significantly depending on season, heating, air conditioning, weather and ventilation.
A cigar left in a dry environment for too long can lose moisture and become fragile. For that reason, original packaging or an ordinary drawer may not be enough for long-term storage.
5. How Can You Tell If a Cigar Is Too Dry?
An excessively dry cigar may become rigid, brittle, prone to cracking and unusually fast-burning. The wrapper can become particularly vulnerable. If you press the cigar very gently, it may no longer have its normal resilience. Do not squeeze it aggressively to test it.
6. How Can You Tell If a Cigar Is Too Moist?
An overly humid cigar may become excessively soft, difficult to light, prone to going out and difficult to draw. Too much moisture is not better than too little — the goal is not to keep cigars “as humid as possible,” but to maintain balance.
7. What Is a Hygrometer?
A hygrometer measures relative humidity inside the humidor. There are analog and digital hygrometers. For practical everyday use, a good digital hygrometer can be very convenient because it makes monitoring conditions easy. A humidor without measurement may look elegant, but you do not really know what conditions exist inside.
8. What Is a Humidification System?
A humidor needs a source that helps maintain appropriate humidity. Common systems include traditional humidifiers, crystals or gels, electronic systems, and two-way humidity control packs.
Products such as Boveda are popular because they can help both release and absorb moisture to maintain a specified humidity level. For beginners, two-way humidity control systems can be especially convenient.
9. What Does “Seasoning a Humidor” Mean?
A new wooden humidor should not always be filled with cigars immediately — the interior wood may be too dry. If cigars are added right away, the wood may absorb some of their moisture.
The initial process of stabilizing the wood’s moisture level is known as seasoning. The objective is to bring the humidor’s interior to equilibrium before storing a collection. The exact method depends on the humidor and humidification system being used.
10. Should You Use Water in a Humidor?
An important distinction needs to be made. If your humidification system requires water, distilled water is generally used according to the manufacturer’s instructions rather than ordinary tap water — tap water can contain minerals and other unwanted substances.
If you use pre-packaged two-way humidity control packs, you generally do not add water to them. Always follow the instructions for your specific system.
11. How Often Should You Check Your Humidor?
At first, checking it more frequently is useful while you learn how the humidor behaves. Monitor humidity, temperature, the condition of the cigars and the humidification system. Once the environment is stable, this becomes a simple routine.
There is no need to open the humidor constantly — every opening allows air exchange with the room and can temporarily change internal conditions.
12. Should You Remove the Cellophane?
This is a very common question. In many cases, cigars can be stored in a humidor either with or without their cellophane. Cellophane provides some physical protection for the wrapper. Some collectors remove it, while others leave it on — this is not something a beginner needs to worry about excessively.
13. Can Different Cigars Be Stored Together?
Generally, yes. However, if you are storing strongly flavored cigars or very different products for extended periods, separation may be useful. Traditional premium cigars from different brands and blends are commonly kept together in the same humidor. The important points are to allow reasonable air circulation and avoid overcrowding the space.
14. How Long Can Cigars Be Stored?
Under suitable conditions, premium cigars can be stored for long periods. Some blends may evolve through aging. However, aging does not automatically mean every cigar becomes better simply because it has been stored for years — it depends on the blend, tobacco quality, storage conditions and personal preference.
For beginners, long-term aging should not be the first objective. First learn to store cigars correctly and consistently.
15. Can a Dry Cigar Be Saved?
Sometimes a cigar that has lost moisture can be reconditioned gradually. The key word is: gradually. Do not expose a dry cigar to a sudden increase in humidity — rapid changes can damage the wrapper.
An extremely dry and damaged cigar may never fully return to its original condition. Prevention is therefore much better than recovery.
7 Common Cigar Storage Mistakes
- Storing cigars near a heat source. High temperatures can destabilize the environment.
- Maintaining excessively high humidity. More humidity is not automatically better.
- Using tap water in systems that require distilled water. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Immediately filling a very dry wooden humidor. The humidor may require seasoning.
- Not using a hygrometer. Without measurement, conditions are only assumptions.
- Opening the humidor constantly. This can create unnecessary fluctuations.
- Rehydrating a dry cigar too quickly. Reconditioning should be gradual.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ideal humidity for cigars?
Many cigar smokers prefer approximately 65–70% RH, although preferences and conditions vary. Stability is especially important.
Should cigars be stored in a refrigerator?
A normal household refrigerator is not designed for cigar storage and may provide unsuitable temperature and humidity conditions.
Can cigars be stored without a humidor?
Temporary solutions exist for short periods, but for regular storage or a larger collection, a controlled-humidity system is recommended.
How can I tell if a cigar is too dry?
It may become rigid, brittle and burn unusually quickly. Its wrapper may also crack more easily.
How can I tell if it is too moist?
It may feel overly soft, become difficult to light, have a tight draw and go out frequently.
Protect Your Cigar Collection
A premium cigar begins with quality tobacco, but the final experience also depends on how that cigar has been stored. Remember three principles: controlled humidity → stable temperature → minimal fluctuations.
If you are starting to build a collection, a good humidor and a reliable monitoring system are important investments. At Mister Tabaco, you can receive recommendations not only on choosing premium cigars but also on storing them under appropriate conditions.
Continue the Mister Tabaco Cigar Guide
→ How to Choose Your First Cigar
→ Which Rocky Patel Cigar Should You Choose as a Beginner?
→ How to Smoke a Cigar Properly
→ Robusto, Toro or Churchill? Cigar Size Guide
→ Cuba vs Nicaragua vs Dominican Republic vs Honduras
→ How to Identify Cigar Flavors
→ Cigar Pairing with Whisky, Rum, Cognac or Coffee
→ 10 Common Cigar Mistakes Beginners Make
→ How to Choose a Cigar as a Gift or for a Special Occasion
Explore the Tobacco Guide
→ What Is Premium Tobacco and How Is It Different?
→ Wrapper, Binder and Filler: The Three Components of a Cigar
→ Connecticut, Habano, Maduro, Corojo and Criollo: A Wrapper Guide
→ What Does Maduro Mean and Why Darker Does Not Automatically Mean Stronger?
→ Ligero, Seco and Volado: How Cigar Filler Is Built
→ How Cigar Tobacco Is Grown: From Seed to Harvest
→ Tobacco Fermentation: The Process That Transforms the Leaf
→ Tobacco Aging: Why Some Leaves Mature for Years
→ Tobacco From Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Ecuador and Mexico
→ How a Master Blender Creates a Cigar
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