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A new humidor is not ready to use straight out of the box. The bare Spanish cedar lining is bone-dry, and if you load it with cigars right away the wood will pull moisture out of them — drying out the very cigars you are trying to protect. Seasoning fixes this by charging the wood with humidity first, so the humidor can hold a stable level instead of stealing it.
The process is simple and mostly hands-off, but it cannot be skipped or rushed. Here is exactly how to season a new humidor, step by step, plus the mistakes that ruin the process.
Why You Have to Season a New Humidor
The cedar lining of a fresh humidor has almost no moisture in it. Wood is hygroscopic — it absorbs and releases humidity to reach equilibrium with its surroundings. Drop cigars into an unseasoned humidor and the dry wood draws moisture from the tobacco until everything balances out, which leaves your cigars under-humidified and prone to cracking. Seasoning pre-loads the wood so that when cigars go in, the humidor maintains roughly 65–70% relative humidity instead of fighting for it. If you are still choosing a humidor, our guide to the best cigar humidors under $100 covers solid options.
What You Need
You only need a few things: the humidor itself, distilled water (never tap — more on that below), a humidification source, and a hygrometer to monitor progress. The easiest humidification method is a seasoning Boveda pack, which does the work for you at a fixed level. A quality desktop humidor with a tight seal makes the whole process faster and more reliable.
Shop desktop humidors at Gotham Cigars →
How to Season a Humidor: Step by Step
Method 1: The Boveda Pack Method (Easiest)
This is the foolproof option. Place one or two 84% RH seasoning Boveda packs inside the empty humidor, close the lid, and leave it for about two weeks. The packs slowly release moisture into the cedar at a controlled level — no guesswork, no risk of over-humidifying. Once the humidor holds steady, swap the 84% seasoning packs for standard 69% (or 65%) packs and add your cigars.
Method 2: The Distilled Water Method
If you prefer the traditional route: lightly dampen a clean cloth with distilled water and gently wipe down the interior cedar — do not soak it. Then place a small dish or shot glass of distilled water inside, close the lid, and wait. Check after a day or two; refill the dish as needed. Over one to two weeks the wood will absorb enough moisture to stabilize. Remove the dish once your hygrometer reads a steady 65–70%.
Confirm It Is Ready
The humidor is seasoned when the hygrometer holds at your target humidity (65–70%) for a full day or two without dropping. Only then should you add cigars. Rushing this step is the most common reason new humidors fail to hold humidity.
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Common Seasoning Mistakes
Using tap water. Tap water contains minerals and chlorine that can cause mold and leave deposits. Always use distilled. Soaking the wood. Over-wetting warps the cedar and can crack the humidor — damp cloth only, never dripping. Skipping the hygrometer. Without one you are guessing, and guessing is how cigars get ruined. Adding cigars too early. If the humidity has not stabilized, the wood is still thirsty and will pull moisture from your cigars.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to season a humidor?
Usually one to two weeks. Larger humidors and very dry climates take longer. Do not rush it — wait until the humidity holds steady before adding cigars.
Can I use tap water to season a humidor?
No. Tap water has minerals and chlorine that promote mold and leave residue. Use only distilled water, or a seasoning Boveda pack, which removes the question entirely.
Do I ever need to re-season my humidor?
Only if it has been left empty and open long enough to dry out completely. A humidor in regular use with a working humidification source stays seasoned on its own.
The Bottom Line
Seasoning is the difference between a humidor that protects your cigars and one that quietly dries them out. Use distilled water or a seasoning pack, give it one to two weeks, confirm with a hygrometer, and only then add cigars. It is a small amount of patience that pays off every time you open the lid. For storage on the go, see our guide to storing cigars without a humidor.
Need a humidor to season? Browse cigar humidors at Gotham Cigars, or compare options in our best humidors under $100 guide.
