Welcome to the ultimate resource for cigar hobbyists seeking to understand, choose, and maintain the perfect humidor. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned aficionado, this guide will cover everything from the basics to advanced insights, ensuring your cigars remain fresh and flavorful while aging appropriately in any humidor. Check out the agenda below.

 

Cigar Humidor Guide Table of Contents

1. What Is a Cigar Humidor?
2. Why Use a Humidor?
3. Types of Humidors
4. Humidor Sizes
5. How to Season a Humidor
6. Maintaining Your Humidor
7. Cigar Humidor FAQ
8. Cigar Humidor Glossary 

 

 

What Is a Humidor For Cigars?

A cigar humidor is a storage container that was created to maintain a humidity level, typically between 65% and 72%, to preserve the quality and flavor of your cigars. You might be wondering why is that important? Cigars are made from tobacco leaves therefore they need to maintain a proper level of moisture to have flavor while smoking. Too much humidity may cause the cigar to expand and crack the paper. Too dry will result in a bad smoke, uneven burn, harsh taste. So maintaining a humidity level between 65% and 72% has been proven to be the ideal storage environment for cigars. Humidors can range from small portable cases to large walk-in rooms, all serving the primary function of creating an optimal environment for cigar storage.

 

Why Use a Humidor?

As we just previously mentioned, cigars are crafted from natural tobacco leaves that are sensitive to environmental conditions like humidity and temperature. So humidors have an airtight seal that create the perfect storage environment. Without proper humidity control:

• Too Dry: Cigars become brittle, burn too quickly, and lose flavor.
• Too Humid: Cigars can develop mold, burn unevenly, and taste harsh.

A humidor ensures cigars age gracefully, maintaining their intended flavor profiles and structural integrity.

Did you know? Aging cigars will bring the intended flavor profile to the front and center of the smoking experience. Some people will change aging a cigar "changes the flavor" and while that may appear to be true. Smoking a cigar the first day you have it versus 1 year from now will be a different experience. Although the flavor never changes, aging a cigar will allow more time for the flavor to be brought forward. 

What Makes A Humidor Good?

 

 

 

Types of Humidors For Sale

There are quite literally thousands of humidors being sold online today so no wonder you're overwhelmed to make a purchase. We're going to break down the humidor categories in it's simplest form.

1. Desktop Humidors 

• Capacity: 25–200 cigars
• Ideal For: Home or office use
• Features: Humidor Box that sits on a shelf, desktop, or other flat surface. Often made of wood with Spanish cedar lining; includes a hygrometer and humidifier.

2. Travel Humidors 

• Capacity: 5–50 cigars
• Ideal For: On-the-go storage
• Features: Compact, durable, and often waterproof. Brands like Xikar travel humidors and Cigar Caddy humidors are popular choices.

3. Cabinet Humidors

• Capacity: 300–5,000 cigars
• Ideal For: Serious collectors or commercial use
• Features: Furniture style cabinets with drawers and/or shelves. Typically with double paned glass doors. May include electric cigar humidifier system.

4. Electric Humidors 

• Capacity: 300–5,000 cigars
• Ideal For: Serious collectors or commercial use
• Features: Advanced and automatic humidity and temperature regulation. Technology driven with incredible visual appeal.

5. Cigar Lockers 

• Capacity: Thousands of cigars
• Ideal For: Cigar shops or lounges or restaurants  
• Features: Individual lockers slotted for air flow that allow customers to use their locker for cigar storage. Cleverly create a cigar subscription service or cigar of the month club to monetize the cigar locker space

6. Commercial Cigar Humidors

• Capacity: Thousands of cigars
• Ideal For: Commercial/retail use
• Features: Tilted shelves, LED Lighting, and large capacities allow for storing and selling lots of cigars to potential customers

7. Point of Sale Humidor Displays

• Capacity: 50-150 cigars
• Ideal For: Commercial use
• Features: Small humidor displays meant to grab the attention of customers at the point of sale. Easy way to increase average order value and impulse sales. Often acrylic or wooden displays with a humidification source.

8: Furniture Humidors 

• Capacity: 500–1,000 cigars
• Ideal For: Home and office decor
• Features: End tables, coffee tables, and small cabinets meant for storing cigars and interior decor accent

 

Humidor Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large

Choosing the right size depends on your collection and usage:

Size	Capacity (Cigars)	Ideal For	Collection
Small	Up to 50	Beginners or occasional smokers	Desktop Humidors  Travel Humidors
Medium	50–100	Regular smokers with growing collections	Desktop Humidors
Large	100-200	Large collections or long-term storage	Desktop Humidors
Extra Large	200+	Collectors, Businesses, Retail Stores	Cabinet Humidors Furniture Humidors Electric Humidors

 

 

How to Season a Humidor Box

Before using a new humidor, it’s crucial to "season" because the wood comes very dry which means the humidity inside the box will not be optimal to store cigars upon delivery. The seasoning process is designed to bring the wood lining inside the humidor as close as possible to operating relative humidity. The wood lining inside the humidors acts as a buffer to regulate moisture so it must be treated properly before introducing the cigars. 

1. When setting up a new humidor for the first time, remove any dust or debri from the manufacturing process by wiping down the interior with a dry cloth.
   
2. If the humidor is new or has not been used for some time, place a small shallow bowl or container of distilled water inside the box.
3. Close the lid and let it sit for 24–48 hours. Once the time has passed, if a large portion of the water has evaporated, refill the bowl a second time and leave it inside the cigar humidor for another 24 hours.
4. Monitor: Use a hygrometer to check humidity levels; aim for 68-72%.
5. Repeat: If necessary, repeat the process until desired humidity is achieved. 
6. The humidor is now seasoned and the cigars can now be set inside. 

Note: Always use distilled water to prevent mold and mineral buildup.

 

Maintaining Your Cigar Humidor

1. Regular checks by monitoring humidity levels weekly using the hygrometer readings
2. Refilling your humidifiers are adequately filled with distilled water or propylene glycol solution. If you have humidity packs it would be making sure you rotate with fresh packs every month or so
3. Rotate your cigars periodically to ensure even aging
4. Avoid placing your humidor in direct sunlight. Place the humidor in a cool, dark place to maintain consistent temperature and humidity and limit exposure to light.
5. PRO TIP: It will be easiest to monitoring your humidors with a humidor that has a glass top and an external hygrometer so you don't need to open and close the lid frequently.

 

 

Cigar Humidor FAQ

How long can cigars last in a humidor?

Properly stored cigars can last indefinitely, often improving or bringing out the flavor over time.

Can I store different cigar types together?

It’s best to separate flavored or infused cigars from traditional ones to prevent flavor crossover. Most humidors come with trays and dividers to separate cigars.

What if my humidor’s humidity is too high?

Remove the humidifier temporarily and leave the lid open for a short period to allow excess moisture to escape.

What if my humidor’s humidity is too low?

Change your humidity pack or add in more distilled water. 

Do I need to calibrate my hygrometer?

Yes, calibrate your hygrometer periodically to ensure accurate readings.

Why Humidity Packs Are Better Than Liquid Solutions

Unlike liquid or gel-based humidification methods, humidity packs offer set-it-and-forget-it convenience and consistent results. Each humidity pack is a self-contained, two-way humidifier that automatically regulates the internal environment—adding or removing moisture as needed. This eliminates the guesswork, avoids over-humidification, and requires zero mess or refilling. 

Where to buy a humidor?

Buying a humidor, especially your first one, can feel overwhelming. It's important to do you research first. First know your budget and size so you narrow down your buying criteria. Then focus on finding quality humidor brands like Prestige Import Group, Case Elegance, Humidor Supreme, and American Chest. Next find retailers who sell those brands and who have the humidors in stock within your buying criteria. Trusted Home Goods is a cigar humidor website where customer service is available by call or text 24/7 and you can speak directly to the owner of the business. 

Warning: Marketplaces like Amazon are full of knock off humidors that are cheap and a waste of money. Be sure to look at the "Sold by" field to ensure it is being sold by a reputable seller. 

 

 

Cigar Humidor Glossary of Terms

• 135 Rule: The sum of the temperature and humidity level should equal 135
• Hygrometer: Device measuring humidity levels inside the humidor.
• Humidifier: Component that adds moisture to maintain desired humidity.
• Spanish Cedar: Preferred wood lining for humidors due to its moisture retention and pest-repelling properties.
• Seasoning: The process of preparing a new humidor to maintain optimal humidity.
• RH (Relative Humidity): The percentage of moisture in the air that is ideal for cigars is 65% - 72%.
• Bloom: A harmless white powder indicating proper aging; not to be confused with mold.
• Propylene Glycol Solution: A mixture used in humidifiers to stabilize humidity levels and prevent mold.
• Aging: The process of allowing the tobacco in your cigar to "rest" under controlled and optimal storage conditions to bring intended flavors to life
• Cigar Humidifier: Active humidification system that expels or circulates humidity in a humidor box
• Humidor Box: box for storing cigars in optimal condition
• Stogie: Slang for a cheap cigar
• Humidity Pack: set-it-and-forget-it convenience and consistent results. Each humidity pack is a self-contained, two-way humidifier that automatically regulates the internal environment—adding or removing moisture as needed. 

 

We hope you enjoyed our thorough guide to cigar humidors. You can explore all of our collections of cigar humidors at TrustedHomeGoods.com to find the perfect match for your collection. Shop all cigar humidors today!