Seasoning Your Humidor

Seasoning your humidor is an easy step by step process that just requires a bit of patience.  Once your humidor is seasoned it will keep them from drying or cracking and your cigars can be stored in the perfect environment to keep them fresh and ready for you.  There are two different ways to season a humidor: with a bowl or with a sponge.

Bowl Method

Items

• Distilled water

• Small bowl

• Dry towel

Remove the humidifier and hygrometer from the humidor.  Next take a clean dry cloth and wipe down the interior to clear it of any dust that may have collected if it hasn’t been used in an extended time or while it was in storage before shipment. Grab the bowl and fill it with distilled water and place it in the center of the humidor.  Alternatively, a shot glass can be used as well.  Close the lid and let the bowl sit anywhere from 3 to 14 days. Opinions vary on the length of time but your humidor can be safely used after 3 days.  Our recommendation is to use a longer length of time with larger humidors. Check the bowl or shot glass from time to time and add water the bowl/shot glass if some has evaporated. 

Sponge method

Items

• Distilled water

• Small bowl

• Sponge

• Dry towel

 Complete the initial step above of removing the humidifier and hygrometer then wipe down the interior of the humidor with a dry towel. Take the sponge and soak it in distilled water and squeeze out any excess. Ensure that that retains a fair amount of moisture but isn’t dripping wet. Place the sponge on a flat plate, small zip lock bag or small piece of plastic wrap enough to keep the sponge from touching the cedar.  Just like above you can give the sponge anywhere 3 – 14 days with the lid closed.  The wood will be absorbing the humidity in the sponge so be sure to check it on occasion to ensure it is still moist.  Once you remove the sponge attach the humidifier and hygrometer. 

Measuring the humidity

Let the hygrometer and humidifier sit in the closed humidor from anywhere between 24 hours to 5 days.  The longer you wait the more accurate the reading. Check the hygrometer after your desired wait time.  The ideal humidity in your humidor falls anywhere between 65% Rh (relative humidity) and 72% Rh depending on your personal preference, but if your hygrometer is reading 75% or a bit more initially that’s perfectly fine.  When you add you cigars they will absorb some of the ambient humidity bring the hygrometer’s ambient humidity down.  If it is consistently reading above 72% remove the humidifier for a few hours or a day and leave the humidor lid cracked open to release the excess humidity. Close the lid and give the hygrometer time to reset its reading.  If it’s still reading high repeat the process above. Excess humidity can cause mold to grow on your cigars.

Be sure to check your humidor from time to time to make sure your humidifier has enough moisture.  Once your hygrometer starts dipping a little below your desired humidity level recharge your humidifier.