The variety of sizes and designs for a good cigar humidor are endless; some are mahogany and some are made of other types of wood. The interior is usually lined with cedar wood to ensure that the fragrance and moisture level of the cigars stay constant. The perfect level of relative humidity and temperature is 70-percent humidity and 70-degrees Fahrenheit.

Selecting a fine humidor as a gift for the holidays is something that will make sense when you consider that it will be a gift that lasts a lifetime. There is good reason to believe that your gift will be a constant reminder of your thoughtfulness and generosity for many, many years to come, preserving the freshness of the cigars inside.

Though many humidors are costly luxury gifts, there are affordable humidors available at tobacconists throughout the country and online. The perfect humidor at the perfect price may be obtained at a reasonable price, and if paired with a set of fine cigars, the gift is even more sublime. This gift says “now” and “always.” Now, enjoy the taste, flavor and aroma of a fine cigar, and always keep the rest for special occasions. This is because a good humidor will keep the cigars fresh and enjoyable for many years to come. Your gift recipient will have a treasure for all the celebrations and challenges that life serves up.

Humidors are the best way to keep your investment of premium and super-premium cigars available to be enjoyed and appreciated. There are so many ways to say “thank you,” to say “you deserve a papering,” and to say “because I understand you and know what you like.” There is little else that can be given that is so personal and yet and the same time so universally elegant and appreciated as a fine humidor and fine cigars. Such a gift is treasured always, and whether it’s purchased online or at a local store, its quality and the quality of the celebrations or challenges that give the recipient cause to light the cigars up is directly proportionate to the enjoyment they bring.

So remember: The best times, the worst times, the times of storms and of calm seas, the times when there is cause to celebrate or roll up your sleeves and get to work–these times can be enhanced by a great cigar. And when premium cigars meet a fine humidor, life truly is something that will bring you memories and bind you in ways you never realized could be important.

Thanks to Alan King for contributing this article to our humidors blog:

After all, for some smokers, the after-dinner cigar is more symbolic than anything – a conspicuous display, perhaps, of taste and leisure, or a social or familial ritual. If, however, you smoke for taste – which is the best reason to smoke – you should probably invest in a humidor: a specially-constructed box designed to maintain your cigars in near-70% humidity and at a proper temperature when they're not being smoked.

To understand why humidors are so important, remember what a cigar essentially is. It's a set of rolled-up tobacco leaves that have been cut, dried, cured, and fermented, then maintained at a very slight but essential level of moisture. If the cigar dries out completely – as can happen in open air, at the wrong temperature, or in low humidity – it loses its taste. If it's kept in an airtight environment, on the other hand, the necessary low level of moisture will, over time, cause mold. A cigar requires a very special set of conditions in order to maintain optimum taste.

The humidity in which cigars are stored is important because of the specific conditions in which most tobacco is grown. The natural climate for most such areas is in the neighborhood of 70% relative humidity; the tobacco plant has evolved for such a climate. Thus, humidity control is the sine qua non of a humidor – without that, it's not a humidor but a box with cigars in it. Humidors are able to maintain a relatively consistent humidity level partly because of the relatively porous wood used to line them (Spanish cedar and Honduran mahogany are popular choices for this reason).

Most humidors also, of course, have some sort of device that maintains moisture levels; some use hygrometers, which indicate interior humidity. (Digital hygrometers tend to be more accurate, though they lack the old-fashioned appeal of dial hygrometers.)

When packing your humidor, make sure you leave some room between the cigars to allow air to circulate between them. (Again, you want to avoid an airtight fit, which would promote mold. On the other hand, too much empty space will allow that all-important humidity level to drop. Check on your cigars frequently, at least once a week, to ensure that nothing needs to be adjusted). The cigars should, at best, exude a small amount of oil when stored; this is a sign that the humidor is working. Slight amounts of water can be added if cigars start to dry out.

If your cigars suffer an attack of tobacco beetles – a species of beetle that preys on tobacco and can sometimes bore through a humidor – you've probably been keeping the temperature in the box a touch too high (tobacco beetles flourish at temperatures over 75 degrees.) Remove the affected cigars and put them in your freezer for 48 hours, then move them to your refrigerator for another day, following which they should be safely returnable to the humidor.

Spanish-cedar humidors are a popular choice. This wood, as mentioned above, holds moisture well, maintaining humidity, and it holds an aroma many consumers find pleasant and complementary to that of the cigars themselves. It's also slightly favored for keeping tobacco beetles out, and it doesn't warp in high humidity.

When you buy your humidor, "season" it by applying a moist cloth to the interior wood and then leaving a small, closed container of water inside the humidor for 12 hours. If the humidor "drinks up" most of the water, leaving the container near-empty after 12 hours, repeat the process for another 24 hours. Once the water stops evaporating, the humidor is ready for your cigars!

Thanks to Garson Smart for contributing this article to our humidors blog:

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