Cedar Wood Purchase – Varieties and Properties

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Why should I buy cedar wood, what do I need it for, and what should I consider? These questions are frequently asked, especially regarding its use in humidors.

Types of Cedar

True cedars belong to the pine family, meaning they are coniferous trees. There are different types, including Atlas cedar, Cyprus cedar, Himalayan cedar, and Lebanese cedar. However, when people refer to cedar wood, they often include many other types that are not actually cedars. Besides cedar wood itself, wood from cypress and deciduous trees is also referred to as cedar wood.

Many types of cedar wood come from the cypress family, such as Western Red Cedar. In North America, it is referred to as "cedar" because of its aromatic wood. However, this type of cedar wood has a strong inherent odor and does not have the same high moisture absorption capacity as Spanish cedar. Still, it is often used to build budget-friendly humidors due to its lower cost.

Properties of Cedar

Cedar wood is highly aromatic, with a strong scent often described as woody and resinous, though among the four types mentioned above, Lebanese cedar is relatively low in odor.

Cedar wood has expectorant and antiseptic properties. It is used to treat respiratory diseases and infections of the bladder and kidneys. It is also popular for repelling moths and lice and for reducing foot odor. Anyone who has smelled real cedar wood knows that it is more suitable for garden furniture, shoe trees, etc., than for humidors.

Spanish Cedar

The most commonly used type of wood for humidor construction is Spanish cedar. It originates from the West Indian cedar and belongs to the deciduous tree family—specifically the mahogany family—and is sourced from West Africa and South America (excluding Chile).

Spanish cedar does not actually come from Spain and is technically not a true cedar. It was named based on earlier methods of categorizing wood by appearance rather than botanical lineage. Since the Spanish were the first to introduce this type of wood, it became known as Spanish cedar.

The aroma of Spanish cedar enhances the cigar’s aroma, allowing it to fully develop. The wood’s aroma complements that of the tobacco, as they are very similar. Additionally, Spanish cedar helps preserve the cigar’s flavors.

Moreover, Spanish cedar is known for its ability to deter tobacco beetles due to its unique scent and to help maintain a stable climate in the humidor through its high moisture absorption capacity.

Before the wood can be used in a humidor, it must be carefully dried. If this is not done, an unpleasant effect can occur—sticky patches that resemble resin may form on the surface. This sticky substance, however, is not resin but a rubber-like substance. Although it does not affect the quality of the cigars, it can damage the wrapper leaf if it comes into direct contact with the cigars.

This can be removed by wiping the wood with a cloth dampened with alcohol or acetone. If necessary, you can further treat the wood with fine-grit sandpaper. After cleaning, the humidor should be thoroughly aired to prevent it from smelling of solvents, as the cigars could absorb this aroma.

Learn more about this topic here: Spanish Cedar

Another use for cedar wood is cedar shavings, which make for a stylish accessory when lighting cigars.