Cigar Accessories A Collector Cannot Be Without

Guest Author — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 06:45:10 +0000

Quality cigar accessories can enhance the experience of indulging in a great stogie and there are a few tools that serious aficionados should not be without. In this article, we'll tell you which surprising goodies from a cigar shop or grocery store can make smoking one a luxurious treat.

Cigar cutters are used to remove or penetrate the cap of a cigar before smoking it. There are three basic types of cuts: the straight cut, the wedge or "V" cut and the hole punch. The type of cut to make is based on personal preference and the size and/or shape of the cigar. The straight cut is the most common. The double blade guillotine is preferred by many aficionados because it usually makes a cleaner cut. The wedge or "V" cutter resembles the guillotine cutter, but the shape of the blade slices a wedge into the cap of the cigar instead of cutting it completely off. The hole punch is used to put a hole in the cap of the cigar instead of just cutting it off. If a cutter or hole punch isn't available, a hole cut can be made in a cigar using a pen or pencil.

If you are one to purchase expensive varieties, like a Cuban cigar, then here is a cigar accessory you'll definitely need. Unlike a cigar box, a humidor prevents your cigars from drying out or becoming infested by insects. For private use, small wooden or acrylic glass humidor boxes will store a few dozen. Humidors of all sizes use hygrometers to keep track of the humidity levels. The ideal humidity in one of these units is around 65-75%.

As stated, one of the most important cigar accessories to own, is a humidor to keep the cigars moist. If they dry out, you will unlikely ever enjoy the rich aroma. However, while many people enjoy the rich fragrance of a good cigar, there are others who find it overwhelming. Wearing artificial fibres will minimize the amount of odor that your clothes absorb. Store your clothing in a plastic bag with baking soda before they can be cleaned. To keep a room smelling fresh, use a spray deodorizer expressly formulated for tobacco smoke. This isn't as effective as an air purifier but it will help. Lastly, take vitamins to flush nicotine from your system and freshen your breath. Chlorophyll and parsley extract will make your mouth fresher. Vitamin A, vitamin C, aged (kyolic) garlic extract, spirulina, wheat grass and young barley grass will all help to cleanse nicotine from your system.

Personalized cigar boxes or lighters are great but not all of your cigar accessories will come from a smoke shop. To avoid offending people who don't share your appreciation for the aroma of cigar smoke, keep a few key products around your home to get rid of the smell and pay attention to your personal hygiene. This will make cigar smoking pleasurable for everyone.

Tags: cigar accessories, cigar boxes, cigar bar, Cigar Lighter, Cuban Cigar, Humidors

What is a Humidor?

Guest Author — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:16:50 +0000

To understand the concept behind the humidor, one must first be informed of the long-term effects of ageing on tobacco products. First, there is the effect of bloom. This is often mistaken for mold by less learned cigar smokers. Bloom will appear as a white powdery substance on the cigar. In all actuality, Bloom is a good aspect, as it is a sign of proper ageing. This actually intensifies the flavor of a good smoke. If you would rather, you can simply dust this off or, in some cases, simply blow it off, but most cigar aficionados would not.

Mold, on the other hand, does truly occur. Tobacco mold most often comes in the form of blue mold. It is a bluish colored fungus that grows on the outer wrapper of your cigar. If you find this, do not attempt to merely cut the mold off and smoke it anyway. This can be quite harmful to your health. As painful as it might be, simply throw that cigar away.

If properly aged, Mold will not occur, but Bloom will. A properly aged cigar is generally stronger and has a much more distinct flavor. Most people will only bother to age a high-profile smoke, such as a fine Cuban cigar.

Proper aging is done via the Humidor, the focus of this article. A humidor is a device designed solely for the purpose of creating the perfect environment in which to age a cigar. You see, aging a cigar in normal room environments leaves it prone to excessive temperatures, varying humidity’s and other environmental factors that can increase the possibility of the occurrence of mold.

A humidor allows the smoker to maintain a steady and ideal environment for the aging of the cigar. The ideal settings for your humidor are somewhere between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of 65 to 75 percent, roughly.

Do you need a humidor? This all depends. If smoking a cigar is nothing more to you than a quick distraction, if you are content to smoke a cigar that is simply aged between the point of manufacturer to distributor then the answer is no. However, if you consider yourself to be a true connoisseur of fine tobacco, then your life will not be complete without a good humidor to age your cigars to perfection.

Some people prefer to make their own humidors. However, if you do not have the know-how to attempt this, you can find them for sale online anywhere between the prices of $20.00 to $1000.00. The cheaper ones do work, but as with all products, you generally get what you pay for. In the long run, it would be best to pay a little more for the better product.

Thanks to Denis K. for contributing this article to our humidors blog:

Denis is the author and webmaster for CigarInspector.com, your source for cigar reviews and cigar ratings.

Cigar Aficionado

Tags: Cuban Cigar, Harmful To Your Health, Cigar Smokers, About Humidors, Blue Mold, Bloom

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Cigar Accessories A Collector Cannot Be Without

What is a Humidor?