Spanish Cedar Humidors: Why the Wood Matters
A Spanish cedar humidor is a humidity-controlled container built to keep cigars in the climate they were rolled in. The Spanish cedar lining buffers humidity, smoothing out the swings a sealed box would otherwise have. Most indoor air is around 30 to 40 percent humidity, far below what cigars need.
Why Spanish Cedar Is the Standard
Spanish cedar is the standard humidor lining because it buffers humidity, repels tobacco beetles, and deepens cigar aroma. The wood absorbs moisture when humidity rises and releases moisture when humidity drops, smoothing out the swings a sealed box would otherwise experience. Kiln-dried Spanish cedar (Cedrela) is the genuine article.
For more on insect risks, read our guide on cigar beetles. Cheaper boxes sometimes substitute other woods that buffer poorly. For the basics, read our overview on what is a humidor.
| Lining | Moisture buffering | Scent |
|---|---|---|
| Solid Spanish cedar | Holds more moisture and lasts longer | Distinct aromatic cedar smell |
| Thin veneer over plywood | Holds less moisture than solid or thicker cedar | Little to no smell |
| Substitute woods | Buffer poorly | Lacquered or little to no smell |
| Acrylic or glass-top jar | No cedar lining, so no buffering of swings | None |
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How Cedar Buffers Humidity
Spanish cedar acts as a natural moisture reservoir inside your humidor. When interior humidity climbs, raw cedar absorbs moisture. When humidity drops, the wood releases moisture back into the container. This exchange smooths out the swings a sealed box would otherwise have.
A humidor runs best two-thirds to three-quarters full. Bigger boxes with more cedar mass are steadier. See the best cabinet humidors for larger boxes.
Solid Cedar Versus Veneer
Solid or thicker cedar holds more moisture and lasts longer than a thin veneer over plywood. Thin veneer holds less moisture than solid or thicker cedar. Compare cigar humidors by budget and the best luxury cigar humidors to see how construction varies.
Spotting Real Cedar
Genuine Spanish cedar gives off a distinct aromatic cedar smell as soon as you open the box. A lining that is lacquered or has little to no smell is the tell that it is a substitute wood or a thin veneer. The cedar should be raw, not lacquered, so it can actually exchange moisture with the air inside.
When evaluating a box in person or checking photos of used humidors, inspect the interior surfaces carefully:
- Smell the interior for a distinct aromatic cedar scent.
- Verify the interior surface is raw and unlacquered, so the cedar can actually exchange moisture.
- Check photos for hinge damage, warped or split cedar panels, a musty smell, and any sign of mold.
- Ask the seller about seal condition.
Humidors Without Cedar
Acrylic or glass-top jars have no cedar lining, so they do not buffer humidity swings the way a cedar-lined box does. These jars are fine for short-term or overflow storage, but they are less ideal as the sole long-term setup.
Budget builds include:
- A food-grade Tupperware tub lined with cedar sheets is a tupperdor. Learn how to configure one in our tupperdor cigar storage guide.
- A converted wine cooler is a wineador. Read our walkthrough on wineador cigar cooler setups.
- A sealed military ammo can can be converted too. See our guide on the ammo can humidor build.
Caring for a Cedar Lining
A new cedar humidor must be seasoned before cigars go in, or the dry wood pulls moisture from them. Follow our step-by-step instructions on how to season a humidor before adding your collection.
Cedar that has dried out hard stops buffering and starts pulling humidity out of the air. Re-seasoning fixes this in most cases. Never use soap, alcohol, or furniture polish inside a humidor, because they leave a residue and smell that cigars absorb. For supplemental maintenance tools, browse our overview of humidor accessories.
FAQ
What wood is best for a humidor?
Spanish cedar is the standard humidor lining because it buffers humidity, repels tobacco beetles, and deepens cigar aroma. Solid or thick, raw, unlacquered cedar performs best, while substitute woods buffer poorly.
Why should the cedar inside a humidor remain unlacquered?
The cedar should be raw, not lacquered, so it can actually exchange moisture with the interior air.
How can you tell if a humidor uses real Spanish cedar?
Genuine Spanish cedar gives off a distinct aromatic cedar smell as soon as you open the lid. If the lining is lacquered or has little to no smell, the box likely uses substitute wood or a thin veneer.
What happens if you do not season a cedar humidor?
If you skip seasoning, the dry Spanish cedar pulls moisture directly out of your cigars.
Can dried-out humidor cedar be restored?
Yes. Cedar that has dried out hard stops buffering and begins pulling humidity from the air, but re-seasoning fixes this issue in most cases.
Conclusion
Once your cedar humidor is seasoned and filled, log your cigars in the Humidor Tracker.