Seasoning a Cigar Humidor:

To keep the things we cherish in our lives working properly, there is an element of regular garden tending that needs to be undertaken. Whether it comes in the form of frequently changing the oil in a car, storm-proofing a rosewood deck, or seasoning a cigar humidor, without proper tending and maintenance our investments turn into disappointments. Interestingly, most cigar hobbyists have at best a tenuous understanding of how to keep their humidors functioning properly - especially when they are expensive.

Take a gentlemen who has recently acquired a beautifully constructed humidor worth several thousand dollars. Let's say the humidor was a gift, but like most humidors sold on the market (whether they are costly models or not), it did not come with instructions on how to properly season it.

Seasoning a humidor is a crucial and necessary step to ensure a beautiful new humidor functions properly - no matter how nice or how expensive. The inside of the humidor is usually lined with Spanish cedar or mahogany. The reason these woods are used to line the inside of the humidor is they hold humidity well, and both woods contain a natural anti-fungal agent that resists mold. This wood has been kiln dried, and if your idea of maintenance is to simply regularly fill-up the humidification device, the kiln dried wood will easily absorb all of the moisture.

In order to properly season a humidor, you need to obtain distilled water, and a brand new sponge. Distilled water should always be used in the humidification device to prevent buildup. Saturate the sponge, and wipe down all the interior wood with the sponge. Don