You bought a box of cigars — maybe a sampler, maybe something a friend recommended, maybe something that caught your eye at a good tobacconist. Now you’ve got a stack of sticks and no idea how to store them. This guide covers everything you need to get your first humidor up and running correctly.
The short version: cigars need to be kept at around 65–70% relative humidity and roughly 65–70°F. Fail to do that, and they’ll either dry out and crack or get too moist and refuse to burn. A humidor solves this — but only if you set it up properly first.
What Is a Humidor and Why Do You Need One?
A humidor is a box — usually lined with Spanish cedar — designed to maintain stable humidity for cigar storage. The cedar helps regulate moisture and contributes to the aging process over time. Without one, your cigars will dry out within a few days in most climates.
You don’t necessarily need a fancy box. A basic desktop humidor that holds 20–50 cigars costs $30–$80 and works fine for most beginners. What matters more than the box itself is how you set it up — specifically, the seasoning process.
Seasoning Your Humidor: Why It Matters
A new humidor has dry wood. If you just drop cigars in and add a humidity source, the wood will absorb moisture from the air inside the box — and from your cigars. The result: dry cigars, even with a humidifier running.
Seasoning means pre-humidifying the wood so it’s ready to hold a stable environment before your cigars go in.
How to Season a New Humidor: Step by Step
- Remove everything from the box. Take out the hygrometer and humidification device if they came installed.
- Wipe down the cedar interior with distilled water. Use a clean, lint-free cloth or sponge lightly dampened with distilled water. Wipe the walls, lid, trays, and dividers. Don’t soak the wood — just wipe it down. Never use tap water; minerals in tap water can damage the cedar and mess with your humidity device.
- Place a small cup or shot glass of distilled water inside the humidor. Set it on a folded paper towel so it doesn’t directly contact the cedar.
- Close the lid and wait 24 hours. The wood will absorb moisture from the evaporating water.
- Repeat the wipe-down and refill the cup. Do this for a second 24-hour cycle.
- Check the humidity. After 48 hours total, place your calibrated hygrometer inside. If it reads 65–70%, you’re ready. If it’s lower, run another 24-hour cycle.
- Install your humidification device and allow the box to stabilize for another 24 hours before adding cigars.
The whole seasoning process typically takes 2–4 days. It’s worth it — rushing this step is the most common reason new humidors fail to hold humidity.
Choosing the Right Humidity Level
For most cigars, aim for 65–70% relative humidity. That’s the sweet spot where cigars stay supple, burn evenly, and don’t grow mold.
Some smokers prefer the lower end of that range (65%) because cigars draw more easily and burn a bit cooler. Others prefer 68–70% for cigars they plan to age longer. For a beginner, 65–68% is a safe target.
Avoid going above 72%. At that point mold becomes a real risk, especially if your humidor has imperfect airflow.
Humidification Devices: What to Use
There are three main options. Here’s the honest rundown:
Boveda Packs (Two-Way Humidity)
These are salt-crystal packs that actively add or absorb moisture to hit a specific target humidity (they come in 65%, 69%, 72%, and others). They require zero maintenance — just place them in the humidor and they do the work. When they harden and no longer feel soft, replace them. This is what we recommend for beginners. A pack of 4–8 Bovedas runs $15–$25 depending on size.
Humidity Beads
Propylene glycol-coated beads that absorb and release moisture. They’re reusable and work well, but require occasional rehydration with distilled water. More hands-on than Boveda but cheaper long-term. Popular with experienced collectors who like a bit more control.
Foam/Sponge Humidifiers
These came with many older humidors and are often included in starter kits. They work by evaporating water from a foam element. The problem: they can only add humidity, not absorb excess. They also require regular refilling and can harbor mold if neglected. We’d skip these and upgrade to Boveda packs instead — they’re inexpensive and a significant upgrade.
The Hygrometer: Don’t Skip Calibration
A hygrometer measures humidity inside your humidor. Most entry-level humidors include one, but it’s rarely calibrated from the factory. An uncalibrated hygrometer can read 5–10% off, which means you might think you’re at 68% when you’re actually at 58% — and your cigars are slowly drying out.
How to calibrate: Place your hygrometer in a sealed zip-lock bag with a small pile of regular table salt and a few drops of water (don’t mix them — just put them in a bottle cap). After 8 hours, the humidity inside should be exactly 75%. Note how far off your hygrometer reads and adjust accordingly. Digital hygrometers often have a reset or offset button. Analog ones usually can’t be corrected, so just remember the offset.
If you want to skip the math, replace the included hygrometer with a decent digital one — the Caliber IV (~$25) is a popular, reliable choice.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping seasoning. The wood will steal moisture from your cigars. Don’t do it.
- Using tap water. Always distilled. Tap water deposits minerals and can contaminate your humidifier.
- Over-humidifying. Higher isn’t better. Above 72% you risk mold and soft, spongy cigars that won’t draw properly.
- Not calibrating the hygrometer. You can’t fix a problem you can’t measure accurately.
- Using the wrong wood. Real Spanish cedar is ideal. Some cheap humidors use cedar veneer or other wood species that don’t regulate humidity as well. Check product descriptions before buying.
- Placing the humidor in direct sunlight or near a heat source. Temperature swings cause humidity swings. A stable room temperature is more important than hitting a perfect number.
You’re Ready When…
- Your hygrometer is calibrated and reading accurately
- The interior cedar has been seasoned over at least two 24-hour cycles
- Humidity has stabilized at 65–70% for at least 24 hours with your humidification device in place
- Temperature is stable (65–72°F is ideal)
- You’re using distilled water or Boveda packs — not tap water, not the foam sponge that came in the box
Once those boxes are checked, put your cigars in and leave them alone for a day or two to acclimate. After that, check the humidity once a week until you get a feel for how quickly your humidor drifts. Most well-sealed desktop humidors with Boveda packs will stay stable for 2–3 months without any attention at all.
When you’re finally ready to light up, a properly stored cigar is worth celebrating — a solid bourbon and cigar pairing is a great place to start.
This content is intended for adults 21 years of age or older.