Setting Up Your Humidor - The Essentials

To keep your small, brown treasures fresh, they need to be stored with care. It’s clear: a humidor is essential. Only then can you maintain control over the storage conditions and ensure your cigars don’t dry out, preserving their full aroma. This is only possible if they’re kept at a relative humidity between 68 and 72%. The temperature should be around 16 to 18°C. The exact values are entirely up to your personal taste—there’s no right or wrong. Some aficionados prefer their cigars slightly more humid, others don’t. Don’t let anyone tell you that only cigars stored at 72% will deliver their full flavor. Whatever brings you the most enjoyment is the right way.

So, bought the humidor, pop in your cigars, and you’re good to go? Unfortunately, not quite. Before placing your favorite cigars in storage, it’s important to set up your humidor. Here are a few basic rules to follow, which are quick and easy to implement.

Conditioning the Humidor

Start by cleaning the humidor. Dampen a cloth or household sponge, and wipe down all wooden parts that will come into contact with the cigars—walls, lid, base, and all dividers, known as dividers. The interior should ideally be made from Spanish cedar, which holds moisture well and complements the aroma of cigars. Avoid using paper towels or fabric cloths, as they may leave behind lint and paper particles that can damage the cigars' wrapper leaves—and lint in a humidor doesn’t look very appealing.

Once it’s clean, place a shallow dish of distilled water inside, close it up, and let it sit for three days to reach optimal moisture. If you’re eager to store your cigars right away, you can warm the water slightly, and the humidor will usually be ready in a day or two. Wiping it down helps establish a basic level of humidity as well.

The Accessories: Humidifier and Hygrometer

To keep the humidity level in the humidor stable, you’ll need a humidifier. There are two main types. Sponge humidifiers use a propylene glycol solution (50% propylene glycol and 50% distilled water). However, polymer-based humidifiers with crystals are now more common. Simply place the humidifier in a glass filled with distilled water, let the crystals expand, dry it off, and it’s ready for the humidor. Typically, 10 minutes is enough. Avoid leaving it in the water too long, as the crystals can expand excessively and may even spill out of the humidifier.

For those who like to keep a close eye on humidity levels, a hygrometer is essential. It measures relative humidity and is available in digital or analog models with metal coils, natural hair, or synthetic hair. Hygrometers with coils are affordable but less accurate, often found in lower-priced humidors, and are more decorative than functional.

The most reliable results come from synthetic hair hygrometers, though the choice is up to you. Before use, it’s important to calibrate the hygrometer for reliable readings. There are two common methods for this.

With the cloth method, wrap the hygrometer in a damp cloth and leave it in a closed room for about an hour. Then adjust it to a relative humidity of 98%.

In the salt method, place a tablespoon of salt and a few drops of water in a shot glass. Place this glass and the hygrometer in a plastic container (a Tupperware or resealable plastic bag will do). After about eight hours, the humidity level should be 75%, and you can adjust the hygrometer accordingly. Learn more about calibrating and testing hygrometers here: Calibrating the Hygrometer for Your Cigar Humidor.

Many humidors come with a humidifier and hygrometer included, but of course, you can also purchase humidor accessories separately if you’d like to upgrade your humidor’s quality over time.

Xikar

Hygrometer II

6 6 variants

from 37.90 €

CigarSpa

Electronic Humidifier

5 5 variants

from 375.00 €

Der Humidor

hair hygrometer

3 3 variants

25.95 €

-20%

Adorini

Triest Medium Deluxe

1598

(1)

250.00 € 199.00 €

Why Distilled Water?

You may be wondering why distilled water is recommended instead of tap water. Unfortunately, tap water isn’t suitable. It can contain germs, bacteria, and fungi, and it’s often too high in calcium. These can damage your cigars and even lead to mold growth. Distilled water is germ-free and won’t affect the quality of your cigars, so it’s easy to avoid these issues from the start. Given the subtropical climate inside a humidor, cleanliness and hygiene are key. Luckily, maintaining this is straightforward, and distilled water is available at any supermarket for a low cost.

After Initial Setup

Your humidor is clean and properly humidified, the humidifier is filled, and the hygrometer is calibrated—you’re ready to go. Divide your humidor into sections with dividers if desired, and place your cigars inside. They now have a home with ideal conditions, ready to be enjoyed. It’s best to air out the humidor occasionally; after taking out a cigar, leave the lid open a little longer to circulate fresh air. While you’re at it, you can also rearrange any stacked cigars, which should be done from time to time.