Frequently Asked Questions for Humidors

Q12: Some of my cigars have begun to swell and even split the wrapper as soon as I take them out of my humidor. What's going on?


A: That's a typical phenomenon as the season changes from winter to spring. As ambient humidity increases, the moisture level in many desktop humidors skyrockets.

A cedar divider in a desktop humidor will help to soak up some of the excess humidity. It may also be beneficial to leave the lid open for an hour or so each day until the humidity comes down. A digital hygrometer is especially helpful in this situation.

A standard humidification device that uses green sponge material, commonly known as Oasis, often retains too much moisture immediately after charging. To avoid this, it's a good idea to lay it on a towel for 60 to 90 minutes before putting it back into your humidor. It's also helpful to place some cedar sheets (the type that come in cigar boxes) on the top row of your cigars to absorb any drips or excess moisture.

This is a reprint of the article in the "Tip of the Week" section of the website
of Cigar Aficionado ( www.cigaraficionado.com ) in the week of March 23, 1998.