A new humidor arrives in a crate on the dock, and the chief stew asks you to have it ready for the owner trip in four days. If you simply fill it with cigars, the raw Spanish cedar will draw moisture out of the tobacco and you will hand the owner a box of dry cigars. A humidor has to be seasoned first.
Seasoning a New Humidor
Seasoning brings the unfinished interior wood up to working moisture so it stops stealing humidity from the cigars.
- Wipe the interior with distilled water on a clean, lint-free cloth — damp, never wet, and never soaking the wood.
- Do not use tap water (minerals and chlorine), and never use a spray of anything scented.
- Place a humidification device charged with distilled water or propylene-glycol solution inside, close the lid and leave it.
- Alternatively, and more safely, use a boveda-type two-way humidity pack at a slightly higher percentage than target and simply let the cabinet stabilise.
- Check daily. Repeat until the internal RH holds steady in the target band, typically over several days to two weeks.
- Only then load the cigars.
Never rush seasoning. A humidor that has not stabilised will quietly ruin an expensive load of stock.
Hygrometers
| Type | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Analogue (coil/hair) | No batteries, traditional look | Drifts badly; frequently 5-10% out; needs regular calibration |
| Digital | Accurate, fast, often logs min/max | Battery dependent; cheap units still drift |
Calibrate before you trust any reading. The common method is the salt test: seal the hygrometer in a bag or container with a small dish of damp table salt for around 8-12 hours; it should read 75% RH. Note the error and either adjust the unit or apply the offset every time you read it.
- Calibrate on a set interval — six months is a common figure — and after any battery change.
- Fit two hygrometers in a large cabinet. If they disagree, you have a reason to investigate rather than a false sense of security.
- Log the readings. A trend tells you far more than a single glance.
Humidification Systems
- Passive humidifiers — foam, crystal-gel or polymer units charged with distilled water or PG solution. Cheap, simple, need regular attention.
- Two-way humidity packs — sealed sachets that both add and absorb moisture and hold a stated RH. Excellent at sea for their stability and lack of spillage; they must be replaced when they go stiff.
- Active/electronic systems — fan-assisted units with a reservoir and a set point. Common in large fitted yacht humidors. They need power, cleaning, and reservoir top-ups.
- Use distilled or deionised water only. Tap and mineral water introduce salts, scale and bacteria.
Wine coolers and domestic fridges are not humidors and will dry stock out unless purpose-converted.
Onboard Notes
Keep spare humidity packs, distilled water and a spare hygrometer battery in the interior stores. Sourcing them mid-charter in a remote anchorage is not realistic.
Any humidification device leaking into a fitted cabinet is a joinery problem as well as a cigar problem. Report water on the shelves immediately.
Do not fit scented or flavoured humidification products. Tobacco absorbs odour and the owner will taste it.