How to Store Cigars (With or Without a Humidor)

Cigars are made from a natural leaf, and they behave like it: too dry and they crack and burn hot; too wet and they won't draw or stay lit. Good storage keeps them in the middle.

The 70/70 rule (and why most people go a bit lower)

The classic guideline is 70% humidity at about 70°F. Many smokers prefer 62–69% humidity, because a slightly drier cigar burns more evenly and tastes cleaner. Pick a level in that range and keep it steady. Swings do more harm than being a few points off.

Keep cigars away from heat sources and direct sunlight, and above all avoid temperatures over 75°F, which invite mold and tobacco beetles.

When your order arrives

Your cigars travel well, but shipping can dry them out a little. Let them rest for a few days in your humidor or a sealed bag with a humidity pack before smoking. They'll taste better for it.

Short term: days to a few weeks

You don't need a humidor to keep a handful of cigars fresh for a short time.

• Put them in a zip-top freezer bag or a plastic container with a tight lid.
• Add a two-way humidity pack (the kind sold for cigars, usually labeled 62%, 65% or 69%).
• Store the bag somewhere cool and dark, like a drawer or closet.
• Replace the pack when it turns stiff.

This setup is also an easy way to keep a box fresh until you get a humidor.

Long term: a humidor

If you're buying boxes or want to age cigars, get a humidor.

• Size up. You'll fill it faster than you think, and humidors work best around three-quarters full.
• Season it first. A new wooden humidor needs a few days with a humidity pack (or a damp sponge, wiped lightly over the cedar) before you add cigars. Otherwise the dry wood pulls moisture straight out of them.
• Use two-way humidity packs to hold a set level without fuss.
• Get a hygrometer so you know the humidity instead of guessing.
• Rotate your cigars every month or so, so they all see the same conditions.

Signs something's off

• Cracked wrapper, crackly feel, harsh hot smoke: too dry. Re-humidify slowly over a week or two, not all at once.
• Spongy feel, hard to light, tight draw: too humid. Lower the humidity a few points.
• White fuzz: check closely. A fine, dusty white film that wipes off easily is usually plume (harmless oils). Blue-green, raised fuzz that leaves a stain is mold, so discard those cigars and clean the humidor.
• Tiny pinholes: tobacco beetles. Freeze the affected cigars for a few days, then bring them back to room temperature slowly, and fix whatever made it too warm.

Want cigars that age well?

Ask the chat for cigars to put away for later. Fuller-bodied, well-constructed cigars usually reward a few months of rest.