Cigars are highly sensitive to moisture/humidity. When the humidity of the cigar is not at its optimal level, its quality hampers. So, you no longer enjoy smoking. That’s where cigar humidifiers come in and help you to keep the quality of the cigar intact.

In this guide, we’ll discuss all about cigar humidifiers, including the correct way to use and maintain them. 

What Is a Cigar Humidifier?

A cigar humidifier is installed in the humidor to maintain the ideal humidity level in the cigars. It absorbs/releases moisture to keep the tobacco fresh and its quality intact. 

As the humidity level drops down from the ideal level, the cigars dry out, crack, and lose their flavor. It also affects the smoking experience. Again, too much humidity wets the tobacco and forms mold. This can further irritate your throat and mouth. So, to avoid these issues, cigar humidifiers are used for safe cigar storage. 

What is the Optimum Humidity Level for Cigars?  

For daily smoking, a 65%-70% relative humidity is best for storing cigars. This keeps the flavor of the cigar intact and maintains a decent burning. However, if you want to store the cigars as a collection for a longer period, go with a 62%- 80% humidity level. 

Nevertheless, the size of the cigar also impacts the humidity level. So, the best you can do is go for the 70/70 humidity rule. According to this rule, the cigars are to be kept with 70% relative humidity at 70°F (21°C). 

However, there is a debut for this concept as many experts find 70% too high for some cigars. So, going for 65°F (18°C)and 67% relative humidity is a safer option for all cigar sizes

Function & Benefits Of Cigar Humidifier     

Controlling Humidity 

If the humidity level is not maintained, the cigar gets too moist or too dry. This can cause mold formation or cracks on the cigar. A humidifier maintains the ideal humidity level of the cigar and prevents excess dryness or moistness.

Prolongs Shelf Life

A well-maintained humidifier extends the shelf life of cigars. It doesn’t let the cigar get dry or wet. Thus, the character of the cigar remains constant and stays fresh for a long time. 

Enhances Smoking Experience

The humidity level of the cigar has a greater influence on its burning and drawing performance. Humidifiers ensure the cigar is in a good state to burn evenly requiring no relighting. Besides, it maintains the proper airflow while smoking. Thus, you can have an enjoyable smoking experience. 

Preserving the Flavor & Aroma of Cigar 

The volatile substance in tobacco adds flavor and aroma to the cigar. Besides, flavored cigars are also available. When the humidity fluctuates too much these flavors fade away. Humidifiers prevent this and keep the flavor of the cigar intact. 

Aging and Maturation

Humidifiers provide a controlled environment for the cigars. This way, you can store cigars for several months to years keeping the quality intact. Thus, humidifiers facilitate the maturing process to enhance its cigar flavor. 

Protection from Pests

The tobacco in cigars is prone to pest attacks. A humidifier maintains the humidity of the cigar and protects it from pests like tobacco beetles. So, your investment in cigars won’t get wasted due to pest infestation. 

Types Of Cigar Humidifiers  

1. Floral Foam Humidifier

Floral foam also known as oasis foam is a traditional variant of humidifier. It comes in a plastic container with a ventilation facility allowing moisture flow. 

However, you need to add water or an activator solution to the foam every 1 or 2 weeks. The frequency of refilling depends on the size of the humidor. Besides, you should replace the foam every 6 to 12 months. 

2. Crystal Gel Humidifier   

Crystal gel humidifiers come in a cylinder-shaped container filled with gel. These are two-way humidifiers. That is they both absorb and release moisture to maintain the perfect humidity level. When water is added to the humidifier the gel expands and shrinks as moisture runs out. So, you need to refill it once every 2-4 weeks. 

Compared to foam humidifiers, gel humidifiers release more moisture. You must use a good hygrometer to keep the humidity level in check. Besides, these humidifiers are to be replaced every one or two years. 

3. Silica Beads Humidifier

Silica breads have moisture-absorbing properties that make them suitable for cigar humidifiers. They are available in two types- indicating and non-indicating variants. 

The indicating beads change color based on moisture level! These are typically blue or orange in color. The blue silica is made of cobalt chloride and turns to pink as it absorbs moisture. And the orange silica beads are composed of methyl violet. They turn green in contact with moisture. 

When they completely change the color it indicates they are wet and need replacement. So, with indicating silica beads you can easily understand when to refill. But the same doesn’t go for the non-indicating ones. They come in white or clear color and usually need refills once a month. 

4. Humidor Packs 

Humidor packs are pouch-style humidifiers. It contains a solution of salt and water and comes with specific humidity labels like- 62%, 65%, 69%, 75% and 84%. You can choose the pack according to your humility requirement. 

You may wonder how these packs maintain humidity levels. Basically the membrane of the pouch allows absorption and release of moisture from the saline solution inside. As the water content reduces, the pouch shrinks. You should replace the pack 2 to 3 months before the pack loses water content and becomes hard. 

5. Electronic Humidifiers

If you want greater control over the humidity level of your humidor, electric humidifiers are the best choice. They have a built-in digital hygrometer/thermometer that maintains an accurate humidity level. 

Besides, some electronic humidifier facilities have advanced features like Wi-Fi connection. They warn you when you run out of water and need a refill. Besides, you will also get electric humidifiers with auto-fill water inlets reducing your refiling hassles. This way maintaining an electronic humidifier is easy. However, they are expensive compared to other variants. 

How Does Cigar Humidifier Work?   

The cigar humidifiers are installed in cigar boxes or cigar cabinets. They contain foam, gel or silica breads. You need to add water oran activator solution to the humidifiers and they will release moisture when needed. 

Two-way humidifiers not only release but also absorb moisture when the moisture content in the humidor goes too high. This way they maintain a relative humidity level of 65% to 70% which is ideal for cigars. Thus the cigars remain free and last longer. 

However, to ensure the optimal humidity level hygrometer is used. This allows you to know the humidity level inside the humidor. Following the ratings you can refill water or adjust the humidifier as required. 

How to Pick the Right Cigar Humidifier?- Buying Guide   

Here are some crucial factors to consider for finding the ideal cigar humidifier: 

Application: Personal or Commercial Use

Humidors are available in different sizes based on application. For personal use, buy a small and lightweight humidifier. 

Again for commercial use,  large cigar cabinets are made to store cigars. You will find these humidors in cigar shops and cigar bars. In this case, install large humidifiers at the bottom of the cigar cabinets.  

One-way or Two-way Humidifier

One-way humidifiers only release moisturizer in the humidor; for example- silica bread humidifiers. Whereas, two-way-humidifiers can absorb and release moisture as per the requirement. So, for better humidity control choose two-way humidifiers like crystal gel or electric humidifiers. 

Size Of The Humidor 

As the humidifier is installed inside the humidor, considering the humidor’s size is essential. Measure the length, width, and height of the humidor to find out its dimensions. If you have a large humidor measure it in feet and for smaller ones measuring in inches will be easier. 

After having the measurement convert this to cubic feet following the below formula:

With this dimension, you can easily find the ideal humidifier. 

For example, if your humidor size is 10-70 Cubic Ft, a humidifier of 13.87” x 8.07” x 8” dimension will work great. Again for a smaller humidor of 5-10 Cubic Ft, choose a humidifier with dimensions near 7.87” x 5.31” x 5.05”.

Water Level Volume 

You need to add water to the humidifier to maintain moisture levels in the humidor. If the water-containing capacity is low, it requires frequent refills. Therefore, to avoid this hassle, buying a humidifier with an ideal water level volume is a must. 

For example- if you have a 5-10 Cubic Ft humidor, a humidifier with 1.1L / 2.32Pints water level volume is enough. However, for larger humidors like 10-70 Cubic Ft, buy one with 4.8L / 10.14Pints. 

Additional Features

Modern cigar humidifiers; the electric ones come with many advanced features to facilitate easy maintenance. Though these are expensive, you can have a great experience using them. Some features to consider include:

• Digital hygrometer for accurate humidity reading
• Microcomputer-controlled display screen
• Auto-water fill inlet
• Water-level alert
• Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection for advanced monitoring via smartphone 
• Built-in fans for even humidity distribution 
• Multiple humidity settings

Budget 

Cigar humidifiers are available in different price ranges. Manual humidifiers are cheaper than electric ones with advanced features. Besides, the price also varies depending on the size. So, fix your budget and look for a humidifier that fits your needs. 

How To Use a Cigar Humidifier? 

Let’s learn how to use electric cigar humidifiers following four easy steps: 

Step 1: Add Water In The Tank 

Add water into the humidifier opening the lid of the reservoir or water tank. Some models may have mesh reservoirs without lids. 

Humidifiers have indicators to show the water level. You must ensure to fill as per the manufacturer’s recommended level.

Step 2: Placing The Humidifier & Connecting the Power Cord 

After filling the water tank, place the device in your cigarette cabinet. Next, plug the humidifier into the electrical outlet. In doing so, make sure not to press the water tank against the humidity sensor wire and power cable. 

Step 3: Turn On The Humidifier 

Switch on the humidifier and you will find the digital display glow. Pressing the power button will show you the current humidity of the cigar cabinet. 

Step 4: Monitoring The Humidity

There are up and down mark buttons in the humidifier. With these buttons, you can easily set a start and stop range for your humidifier. However, always set your stop humidity before setting the start humidity. And remember to keep the stop humidity higher than the start humidity otherwise, it will turn into a fault code. 

Following these easy steps, you can easily use a cigar humidifier and maintain optimal humidity for cigars. 

Tips To Regulate Humidity Using Cigar Humidifier  

Tip 1: Don’t Use Tap Water 

Using tap water is not recommended for humidifiers. This water contains microscopic bacteria which can mold your cigars and damage them. Instead always use distilled water or propylene glycol solution. This will prevent the cigars from any bacteria infection and keep them fresh. 

Note: If you are using a silicone beads humidifier, don’t use a propylene glycol solution. These beads have antibacterial features; plain water is good to go for these humidifiers. 

Tip 2: Never Exceed 80% RH 

Always set the humidifier to optimal humidity level- 65% to 70%. Never exceed the range above 80%. This makes the cigar wet and rot quickly. Moreover, it will give off an acidic flavor and show unusual burns. 

Tip 3: Recharge Cigar Humidifier In The Right Way 

You should recharge or refill the humidifier once it drops down to 64% or lower.  For this make sure the hygrometer is calibrated rightly and shows the correct reading. 

Nevertheless, if you are using a foam-based humidifier, soak the foam in solution for 15 min. This will allow the foam to soak water properly.

Tip 4: Consider Temperature & Weather Conditions

Temperature directly affects the humidity level in cigars. Low temperature prevents the evaporation of water in the humidifier. Again if the temperature is too high the cigar will dry out too quickly. So, maintaining the right temperature is essential.  70°F (21°C) is ideal for most cases. 

Tip 5: Rotate The Cigars  

For even humidity distribution, advanced cigar humidifiers come with fans. This ensures a constant humidity level in each corner of the humidor. Yet, when storing cigars for a long period, rotate them once every 1-3 months for better protection. 

Challenges of Cigar Humidification in High- and Low-Humidity Regions 

Challenge 1: High Humidity 

In high-humidity regions like the Caribbean or coastal areas, the cigars often get over-humidified. This tends to rot and uneven burning of cigars. Besides, it also affects the taste and aroma of the cigars. 

Challenge 2: Low Humidity 

In low-humidity areas like deserts, the moisture content in the air is very less. This makes the cigar dry quickly causing cracks. It further affected the smoking experience. 

Challenge 3:  Temperature Extremes 

Extreme temperatures like too much hot or chilling cold impact the humidity level. This potentially damages the quality of cigars. 

However, with the ideal humidifier and proper maintenance, you can overcome these issues. 

Wrapping Up

Cigar humidifiers are essential to keep the quality, taste, and flavor of cigars intact. However, you must consider the type, size, and water container capacity of the humidifier while purchasing. Besides, look for a cigar humidifier with advanced features for accurate humidity and less maintenance hassle. 

For a reliable option, go for GETJOEAIR cigar humidifiers. We have four models of cigar humidifiers with different features and capacities. All of these are certified and come with a 1-year warranty. We have no MOQ and facilitate wholesales, too! So, place your order now!