How to Store Cigars: The Complete Guide

You have just bought a box of cigars or been given a few as a gift. First question: how do you store them so you don't waste their aromatic potential?

A poorly stored cigar loses its aromas in a matter of days. It turns dry, brittle and bitter. Or worse: too damp, it goes mouldy and becomes unsmokable.

The good news: storing your cigars properly requires neither expertise nor a huge budget. You just need to understand three fundamental parameters and choose the method that suits how much you smoke.

This guide explains everything, from beginner to collector.

Why Storing Cigars Properly Matters

A cigar is a living product. The tobacco leaves it is made from keep evolving after manufacture. They constantly absorb and release moisture.

Without suitable storage conditions, two scenarios occur:

Cigar too dry: the wrapper cracks, the burn becomes fast and uneven, and the taste turns acrid. The tobacco's essential oils evaporate, taking all the aromatic complexity with them.

Cigar too damp: the draw becomes difficult, the burn keeps going out, and mould can appear. Excess water literally drowns the aromas.

A properly stored cigar, on the other hand, can improve with time. Like a good wine, some cigars reach their peak after several months, even several years of controlled ageing.

The 3 Fundamental Parameters

Humidity: The Critical Factor

The ideal relative humidity for storing cigars is between 65 and 72%. This is the range that ensures an even burn and the best release of aromas.

Below 60%, cigars gradually dry out. Above 75%, the risk of mould rises sharply and the burn becomes uneven.

For Cuban cigars, aim for 65 to 70%. For New World cigars (Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic), you can go up to 72 to 75%.

Temperature: Stability Above All

The ideal temperature is between 16 and 21°C. Even more important than the exact value is stability. Sudden temperature swings are your cigars' number one enemy.

Above 24°C, an extra risk appears: the cigarette beetle (lasioderma), a small beetle whose larvae feed on tobacco. An infestation can destroy an entire collection in a few days.

Common mistake: never put your cigars in the fridge. The temperature is too low, the humidity unsuitable, and the cigars will absorb the surrounding food smells.

Airflow: Often Overlooked

Cigars need a minimum of air circulation so that humidity spreads evenly. In a humidor, open the lid for a few seconds once or twice a week. Every two to three months, rearrange the cigars so that those at the back swap places with those on top.

Which Storage Method Should You Choose?

The Humidor: The Benchmark Solution

The humidor (cigar cave) remains the best solution for storing your cigars over the long term. It provides a stable, controlled and protected environment.

What makes a good humidor:

• A Spanish cedar interior, which naturally regulates humidity and repels pests
• An airtight closure with a watertight seal
• A hygrometer to monitor the humidity level
• A humidifier (foam, crystals or Boveda pack) to maintain the humidity

Who is it for? Any smoker who keeps more than 5 cigars and wants to hold on to them for several weeks or months.

Before first use, a new humidor must be prepared: dampen the inside with a cloth soaked in distilled water, put in the charged humidifier, close the lid and wait 48 to 72 hours for the humidity to stabilise. This process, called "seasoning", lets the cedar reach its optimal moisture level.

Discover our collection of cigar humidors to find the model that suits your collection.

And to prepare your cigars before smoking, see our guide on how to cut a cigar.

The Tupperdor: The Budget Alternative

Not ready to invest in a humidor yet? The tupperdor (a blend of Tupperware and humidor) is a simple, effective solution.

How to do it:

1. Choose an airtight food-grade plastic box, clean and odour-free
2. Place a Boveda pack (calibrated at 69 or 72%) inside
3. Add a small digital hygrometer to monitor humidity
4. Fill the box at least two-thirds full of cigars

This method works very well for 10 to 25 cigars and can hold stable conditions for several weeks.

The Airtight Bag: An Emergency Fix

Nothing to hand? A ziplock-style bag can get you by for a few days.

Put your cigars in the bag with a small, lightly dampened sponge (distilled water only). Seal it tightly. This solution is temporary: it does not maintain stable conditions beyond 3 to 5 days.

For short trips, a cigar case offers suitable protection.

Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs

Mixing cigars from different origins without protection. The aromas contaminate each other. If you keep Cubans and Nicaraguans in the same humidor, leave them in their original cellophane or separate them into distinct compartments.

Forgetting to check the humidifier. A dry humidifier is useless. Refill it with distilled water (never tap water, which contains limescale and minerals) as soon as humidity drops below 65%.

Putting the humidor in direct sun or near a heat source. Radiator, south-facing window, shelf above a fireplace: all spots to rule out.

Never airing it. Even with a good humidifier, a cigar needs fresh air. A humidor sealed airtight for months without being opened can develop stale smells.

How Can You Tell If a Cigar Is Well Stored?

The test is simple. Hold the cigar between your thumb and forefinger and apply light pressure.

• Good condition: the cigar gives slightly under pressure then springs back. The wrapper is smooth, silky, with a slight sheen.
• Too dry: the wrapper cracks or crackles under your fingers. The cigar is hard and rigid.
• Too damp: the cigar stays dented after pressure, feeling spongy. The wrapper may show white spots (mould).

A slightly dried-out cigar can sometimes be rescued. Put it in your humidor and gradually raise the humidity over one to three weeks. The process is slow: sudden rehumidification would make the wrapper burst.

FAQ

How long can you keep cigars in a humidor?

With regular humidifier upkeep and humidity monitoring, cigars can be kept for several years in a quality humidor. Some cigars even improve with time, developing more complex, rounder aromas.

Should you remove the cellophane from cigars before putting them in a humidor?

If you store cigars from different brands or origins, keep the cellophane on to prevent aromas transferring. If you store identical cigars, you can remove the cellophane to encourage more even ageing.

Which type of humidifier should I choose for my humidor?

Three main options: foam (cheap but less precise), humidifying crystals (good regulation, moderate upkeep) and Boveda packs (precise, no upkeep, to be replaced when they harden). To start with, Boveda packs are the simplest solution.

Can you store cigars without a humidor?

Yes, for short periods. A tupperdor with a Boveda pack works very well for a few weeks. An airtight bag with a damp sponge will do for 3 to 5 days. Beyond that, investing in a cigar humidor remains the best way to protect your investment.

How often should I refill the humidifier?

It depends on the ambient climate and the type of humidifier. As a general rule: check the hygrometer once a week and refill the humidifier as soon as humidity drops below 65%. In winter, when heating dries out the air, refills are more frequent.

Storing Your Cigars Well: A Simple Habit for a Great Smoke

Cigar storage comes down to three things: stable humidity between 65 and 72%, a temperature between 16 and 21°C, and regular airing.

For occasional smokers, a tupperdor with a Boveda pack is enough. For regular enthusiasts or collectors, a cedar humidor remains the wisest investment.

Explore our collection of cigar humidors, our cigar accessories and our cigar ashtrays to equip your smoking space.

Want to go further? Also discover how to smoke a cigar to get the most out of every session.