When should you rehumidify your cigar humidor?

How to properly manage humidity in your cigar humidor?

Proper cigar storage largely depends on maintaining optimal humidity. This often delicate task relies on an essential tool: the hygrometer. In this article, we guide you to calibrate your hygrometer, understand the factors that influence relative humidity (R.H.), and learn how to correctly rehumidify your cigar humidor.

What is relative humidity (R.H.)?

Relative humidity (R.H.) corresponds to the percentage of moisture in the air, measured by your hygrometer. It is crucial to ensure that your hygrometer is properly calibrated before use. This guarantees reliable measurements for the proper maintenance of your cigars.

Consult our complete guide to calibrate your hygrometer.

Factors affecting humidity in your cigar humidor

Relative humidity varies depending on several factors:

• Contents of the humidor: A nearly full cellar reduces the amount of air to be humidified, while an empty cellar will require more effort from your humidifier.
• Ambient humidity: The humidity present in the room directly affects the humidity in your humidor, especially in winter when heating dries the air.
• Cigar humidity: The cigars themselves release or absorb moisture, influencing the humidor environment.

In general, it is recommended to rehydrate your humidifier when the humidity falls below:

• 67% if you prefer your cigars around 70-71%.
• 70% if you enjoy slightly higher humidity, around 74-75%.

Temperature and humidity: a key relationship

Temperature plays a crucial role in maintaining relative humidity. Here is a table of temperature-R.H. correspondences:

In practice, our homes are often kept around 20°C. That is why a value of 75% R.H. is frequently recommended. However, keep in mind that weather conditions vary, notably between our regions and those of Cuba, where cigars are traditionally stored.

How to effectively rehumidify your cigar humidor?

First method: Use a sponge humidifier

Here are the steps to rehydrate a sponge humidifier:

1. Place the humidifier horizontally in a container filled with demineralized water up to halfway.
2. Let it soak for 5 minutes, turn it over and repeat the operation.
3. Take out the humidifier, shake it to remove excess water, then wipe it with a cloth.
4. Make sure the outside of the humidifier is completely dry before putting it back in the humidor. This prevents water droplets on your cigars.

Attention: If you use crystal humidifiers, use only demineralized water. Avoid propylene glycol, reserved for foam humidifiers.

Second method: Propylene glycol

Propylene glycol is an excellent choice for foam humidifiers. This liquid helps regulate the humidity at 70% in a uniform and consistent manner. Prepare a mixture of demineralized water and propylene glycol, and soak your foam to maintain ideal humidity.

If the humidity in your humidor becomes too high, simply open the humidor for a few hours to reduce it.

Adapt your humidity management

Maintaining optimal humidity in your cigar humidor is essential for preserving your cigars. Between calibrating the hygrometer, regulating the humidity, and using the right tools like distilled water or propylene glycol, these simple steps will ensure your cigars are always ready to be enjoyed.