Use out guide to setting up your humidor correctly. When most people get their new humidor they are anxious to fill it up with their collection of cigars. If you do this without first re-humidifying the wood in your humidor, you will ruin your cigars. Why? The wood is kiln dried Spanish Cedar and has not had a chance to reach it’s equilibrium of 65% humidity. It will literally suck the moisture out of your cigars. This is not good. To solve this problem, all humidors should be re-humidified before their first use. To break in your humidor, follow these easy steps:

1. Place a shot glass filled with distilled water or our humidification solution in the bottom of the humidor.

2. Charge your humidifier and place inside the humidor.

3. Place your calibrated hygrometer inside the humidor.

4. Close the lid.

5. Check the humidity daily using the hygrometer. When it reaches the c.65% range, the wood has been properly stabilized. Note: Do not wipe the interior or your humidor with Water. This will ruin the wood.

Your Hygrometer

All of Simply Cigars humidors are supplied with a hygrometer (except travel humidors) which has been calibrated.

Most cigar smokers believe that if their humidor does not keep 65% humidity, they are broken. This is not true. There is a safe range for your cigars, anywhere from 60-75%. In fact, some say that ideal smoking range is closer to 80% while storage should be done at 65%. (Obviously, they have two separate humidors for this purpose.) As long as your humidity falls within this zone your cigars are safe. Some people like their cigars very moist, while others prefer them slightly drier. You will soon learn your pleasure zone and keep your cigars at that humidity.

Placement of the hygrometer is not critical, as long as you are happy with its location. It is best to allow a flow of air around the hygrometer to ensure an accurate reading. Mounting on the lid or a try in the humidor is the best solution.

The Humidifier

The humidifier is what maintains the humidity in your humidor. To charge your humidifier follow these instructions.

1. Remove the humidifier(s) from the humidor.

2. Use our humidifcation solution (distilled water and propylene glycol) or distilled water and squirt it into the humidifier through the grate.

3. Do not overfill the humidifier. You want it wet not soaking.

4. Take a cloth and wipe any excess liquid from the front of the humidifier.

5. Re-attach back onto the humidor.

If you find that your cigars are a little on the dry side per the ‘pinch’ and the hygrometer, rinse the oasis with distilled water and add adjust the mixture of propylene glycol/humidor solution and distilled water as needed. The humidity in homes varies by location and time of year and it may take a little experimenting to come up with the right combination for yours. A good rule of thumb is that distilled water increases humidity, solution decreases it.

Caring For Your Cigars

Havana cigars mature like fine wines, in fact they will continue to improve for up to their first 15 years, but they do need a little basic care. The humidifier in your humidor should be topped up with humidification solution which is a mixture of distilled water, polyglycol and a mould inhibiter and will guarantee that your humidor is kept at 65% relative humidity (+/-2%).

Try to site your humidor in a location with a temperature, which never exceeds 70F. The temperature range you are aiming for is between 65F and 72F. The relative humidity that you are aiming for is ideally 55-65%. You should be able to use the humidor as soon as you add the water to the humidifier, there is no need to wait a few days To test the condition of your cigars, press with the pad of your thumb just below the band of the cigar. The cigar should feel firm but springy if it is in good condition, if it feels hard and brittle then the cigar is under humidified. If it feels soft and spongy, then the cigar is over humidified. 

Sometimes you may find ‘bloom’ on your cigars, this is like a white mould, which will form on the wrapper. This can be caused by excessive moisture but is nothing to worry about and will not impair the flavour of your cigars.The best way to remove the bloom is to brush down the length of the cigar towards the open end with a soft bristle brush. (A badger shaving brush is ideal for this purpose).

Havana cigars need fresh air! Be sure to open your humidor periodically and be sure to rotate the cigars i.e. if you are not smoking regularly, at the end of each week put the cigars from the bottom layer of the humidor to the top layer of the humidor and so on.

Avoid storing foreign objects such as lighters, cutters, etc. inside the cigar storage portion of your humidor.

Caring For Your Humidor

With proper care and attention, your humidor will give you years of service. To help you care for and maintain your investment, here are some basic tips:

1. Don?t keep your humidor where it will be in danger of being knocked over. 

2. Never store your humidor in direct sunlight. This may fade the wood and heat the inside past the safe range. 

3. Don’t place objects on top of the humidor. 

4. Always use a soft cloth when cleaning your humidor. 

5. Furniture polish or beeswax are all good products which can be safely used on your humidor to clean or polish it. 

6. Regular dusting will keep it looking like new.

7. Do not wipe the interior of your humidor with water or any other liquid, as it will ruin the wood.

Download your free humidor setup guide by clicking here.