Learn how to store cigars at home with the right humidity, temperature and humidor setup. Simple tips to keep cigars fresh, flavourful and ready to enjoy.
You’ve chosen cigars that suit your taste and started exploring flavour profiles, the next step is making sure those cigars stay in perfect condition until you’re ready to enjoy them. This article helps explain the options available to you for storing cigars at home.
Proper storage isn’t just for collectors with huge humidors. Even if you only keep a small selection at home for special occasions, how you store your cigars will have a big impact on flavour, burn, and overall enjoyment.
Note: Cigars carry health risks and are only for adults of legal smoking age. Nothing in this guide is meant to encourage non-smokers to start – it’s designed to help those who already enjoy cigars look after them properly.
1. Why Cigar Storage Matters
Premium cigars are made from natural, carefully aged tobacco leaves. Once rolled, they are still “living” products that react to their environment.
Good storage helps to:
- Protect flavour – Incorrect humidity can mute flavours or make them taste harsh and bitter.
- Maintain construction – Tobacco expands and contracts with moisture. Too dry and wrappers crack; too damp and cigars can swell or burn unevenly.
- Prevent spoilage – Excess humidity and poor airflow can lead to mould, which will ruin cigars beyond rescue.
If you’ve ever had a cigar that tunnels, goes out constantly, or feels like a twig, there’s a good chance storage is to blame.
2. “Goldilocks Zone”: Humidity & Temperature
Cigar storage is all about balance – not too wet, not too dry.
- Relative Humidity (RH): Aim for roughly 65–72%
- Temperature: Aim for around 18–21°C (room temperature in most UK homes)
What happens outside that range?
- Too dry (below ~60% RH):
- Cigars feel light and papery
- Wrappers may crack when you cut or smoke them
- Flavours become sharp, flat, or “thin”
- Too damp (above ~75% RH):
- Cigars feel spongy and heavy
- Draw can be tight or plugged
- Higher risk of mould and uneven burn
You don’t need to obsess over tiny variations, but keeping things broadly in that sweet spot will give you a far better experience.
3. Choosing the Right Storage Option
You don’t have to jump straight into a large wooden humidor. There are a few routes depending on how many cigars you keep at home and how serious you want to get.
a) Humidor Bags – Simple & Effective
Humidor bags (especially pre-loaded with humidity control packs) are one of the easiest ways to store cigars:
- Great if you keep a handful to a couple of boxes at a time
- Ideal for beginners or occasional smokers
- Portable and fuss-free – perfect if you’re not ready to invest in a traditional humidor
Pop your cigars in, seal the bag, and the included humidity pack does the rest.
b) Traditional Wooden Humidors
A classic choice and a beautiful bit of kit if you enjoy cigars regularly:
- Usually lined with Spanish cedar, which helps regulate moisture and adds a subtle aroma
- Available in a range of sizes, from desktop humidors to cabinet styles
- Require a little more care: seasoning, monitoring, and occasional adjustments
They pair perfectly with two-way humidity packs to keep conditions stable with far less guesswork than traditional sponges or gels.
c) Travel Cases & Small Setups
If you like to take cigars to events, dinners, or pairing nights:
- A small travel humidor or cigar case with a mini humidity pack is ideal
- Designed to protect cigars from being crushed as well as from drying out
These are handy for weekends away or when you’re pairing cigars with a favourite whisky or rum at a friend’s house.
4. How Two-Way Humidity Packs Help (Like Boveda)
Two-way humidity packs are a game-changer for cigar storage. Instead of you constantly topping up water or fiddling with hygrometers, they:
- Add moisture when the environment is too dry
- Absorb excess moisture when it’s too damp
- Keep humidity at a fixed, consistent level (for example, 65%, 69%, or 72% RH)
Some simple guidelines:
- 65% RH: Great if you prefer a slightly drier cigar or are focusing on longer-term ageing.
- 69% RH: The “sweet spot” for many cigar smokers, especially in wood humidors and tupperdors.
- 72% RH: Helpful in very dry environments or drafty humidors where you struggle to maintain humidity.
- 84% RH: Not for regular storage – this is typically used to season an empty wooden humidor before adding cigars.
They come in different sizes (measured in grams). As a rough rule, use at least one suitable pack for every small humidor compartment or few dozen cigars, and follow the manufacturer’s guidance. If the pack dries out and becomes stiff, it’s time to replace it.
5. A Simple Setup for Beginners (Step-by-Step)
If you’re just starting to build a small collection, here’s an easy way to get it right from day one:
- Decide how many cigars you want to keep on hand.
- Under 15 cigars? A small humidor bag plus a humidity pack is ideal.
- 20–50 cigars? Consider a desktop humidor or larger humidor bag.
- Choose your humidity level.
- Not sure? Start with 69% RH – a great all-rounder for most people.
- Set up your storage.
- If you’re using a wood humidor, season it first using a dedicated seasoning pack or by following proper seasoning instructions.
- If you’re using a humidor bag, you can usually use it straight away.
- Load your cigars.
- Arrange them loosely so air can circulate – don’t cram them in too tightly.
- Leave everything alone.
- Try not to open your humidor or bag every few hours “just to check”. Constant opening lets humidity escape and makes the system work harder.
- Check periodically.
- Glance at your hygrometer or feel the cigars every week or two. If they feel firm with a little spring when gently squeezed, you’re in a good place.
6. Common Cigar Storage Mistakes to Avoid
A few habits can quietly ruin even top-shelf cigars:
- Storing cigars in the fridge or freezer
- These environments are far too dry and can cause serious damage.
- Leaving cigars on a shelf, desk, or windowsill
- Room air fluctuates constantly with heating, weather, and sunlight.
- Mixing strong smells nearby
- Cigars can absorb nearby odours. Avoid storing them near cleaning products, perfumed items, or anything with a strong aroma.
- Over-humidifying “just to be safe”
- More moisture is not better. Excess humidity encourages mould and tight draws.
- Ignoring mould
- White, powdery plume (crystallised oils) can be wiped away and is harmless.
- Fuzzy, coloured mould (green, blue, grey) is a sign those cigars should be discarded. Don’t try to rescue them.
7. Can You Rescue a Dry Cigar?
If you find cigars that are a bit too dry, you may be able to improve them:
- Place them in a humidor or humidor bag with an appropriate humidity pack.
- Let them re-humidify slowly over a couple of weeks.
- Avoid shock changes – don’t go from very dry to very high humidity instantly.
They might never return to “factory fresh” condition, but a gentle reconditioning can make them smokeable again. However, if the wrapper is badly cracked or they crumble in your hand, consider them a lesson in why storage matters.
Never attempt to recondition cigars with visible mould – those should be safely discarded.
8. Final Thoughts
Choosing the right cigar is only half the journey; how you store it determines whether you’ll actually experience the flavours and aromas the blender intended.
By:
- Keeping humidity in the 65–72% range
- Storing cigars at a sensible room temperature
- Using a humidor, humidor bag, or travel case with reliable humidity control
…you’ll give every cigar in your collection the best chance to shine when you finally light it.
If you already enjoy cigars and you’re unsure which storage setup or humidity level is right for your needs, the team in store or online will be happy to talk you through the options and help you choose a solution that suits your collection, your home, and your taste.
Article created with the support of Generative AI.
