Humidifiers

Floral foam is one of the oldest and most common cigar humidifiers. It has become a standard accessory found in most store-bought humidors. Floral foam, also known as "Oasis foam", is in fact a super-absorbent phenolic foam manufactured by the Smithers-Oasis Company. Once immersed in water, a capillary action occurs and water rises to its surface to be released from time to time. Floral foam humidifiers are normally packaged in plastic containers with holes or slots to allow moisture to escape. To fill them, simply place the foam on a paper towel and pour in distilled water or activator solution until it overflows the surface of the foam. Then wait a few minutes for the excess to gradually drip off and the foam to absorb the rest. Then turn the container upside down to drain off any excess drip. By tapping the container on a table or shaking it over the sink, you ensure that any excess liquid is removed. This way, your cigars won't become saturated with moisture. Finally, place the container inside your humidor and close it. Foam humidifiers should be refilled every 1-2 weeks. Always keep an eye on the humidity level in your humidor, as well as the condition of your cigars. If the humidity level drops below 70%, or if your cigars start to dry out a little, refill your cigar humidor. Be aware that floral foam is very porous and will eventually absorb some of the molecular by-products created by your cigars as they age, notably ammonia. Over time, it will lose its ability to absorb moisture properly and will need to be replaced. This is usually done every 6 to 12 months. Water and propylene glycol solution Many cigar collectors prefer a water-based alternative. They refill their cigar humidifiers with a propylene glycol activator solution. Propylene glycol is hygroscopic at 70% relative humidity. Behind this rather complicated way of putting things, it actually means that once the relative humidity in your humidor reaches 70%, the propylene glycol solution stops releasing moisture. On the other hand, if you use water to fill your cigar humidifier, the humidity in your humidor will experience a rapid rise in humidity followed by a rapid decline in humidity. Propylene glycol has the advantage of releasing moisture gradually, ensuring more regular humidity levels over time. If you do use water, always prefer distilled water to tap or bottled water: the minerals they contain can clog your humidifier and prevent it from performing its function. Disadvantages The main disadvantage of floral foam humidifiers is the high risk of mold growth. Indeed, the high levels of humidity they deliver also make them ideal breeding grounds for mold spores. Opting for a 50% propylene glycol solution will reduce the risk of over-humidity, but will not eliminate it completely. In any case, if you use floral foam, check regularly that it contains no mould. If it does, discard it immediately.

Crystalline gels are super-absorbent polymers that can absorb water up to 500 times their weight. They look like tiny, irregularly-shaped crystals, but expand and become rubbery when soaked in water. This type of humidifier is charged in the same way as floral foam. Pour distilled water into the crystal container until it's completely full, and wait for the crystals to expand fully. This should normally only take a few minutes. Then shake out the excess water and place in your humidor. Gel crystals are very effective when humidity levels in your humidor are low. They quickly release moisture to prevent your cigars from drying out. Gel crystal cigar humidors are pre-treated with propylene glycol. So, only soak them in distilled water, not in an activator solution. Adding propylene glycol will only slow down the evaporation process until your crystals are no longer able to release moisture. Cigar humidifiers using crystalline gel should be refilled every 2 and 4 weeks, once the crystals have shrunk back to their original size. Propylene glycol evaporates over time, so the crystals eventually lose their ability to humidify your cigar humidifier and need to be replaced 1-2 years after purchase. Disadvantages Crystal gel doesn't reabsorb water well once it's released. So there's always a risk, albeit a small one, of saturating cigars with moisture or causing mildew to appear. As a result, these humidifiers work best in naturally ventilated environments, in a cigar cooler or in wine refrigerators where temperatures can be mechanically adjusted to regulate humidity.

Silica beads are made from silica gel. This is a granular, glassy, porous form of silicon dioxide that is made synthetically from sodium silicate. They were invented in 1919 and first used in the 1950s to control humidity. Silica beads are a two-way humidifier. Not only do they release moisture, they also adsorb it (or fail to absorb it). Water adheres to the pores on its surface rather than soaking into its body. Silica beads can adsorb up to 40 times their weight in water. That's why you often find them packed with leather goods, electronics or other moisture-sensitive products. Like crystal gel, silica cigar humidifiers are pre-treated with propylene glycol, enabling them to maintain a specific humidity level normally between 60, 65 or 70%. Charge them in the same way as you would crystal gel. Soak them in water, wait a few minutes for the pearls to expand, drain off the excess liquid and place them in your humidor. As with crystals, silica beads should only be filled with distilled water, and never with an activator solution. Silica beads are incredibly durable. While they should be refilled every 2 to 4 weeks, they should only be replaced after 3 to 6 years. The oil and chemicals released by cigars eventually adhere to the pores of the silica gel, preventing them from adsorbing water. In other words, if you've got a big enough bag of silica beads, that's enough to last you a lifetime! Disadvantages Certainly, silica bead cigar humidifiers are very effective at absorbing moisture when humidity levels are high. But unfortunately, they don't release moisture when humidity levels are low. They are also sensitive to dry air and high temperatures. If exposed to direct sunlight or air-conditioned rooms, they will dry out and become useless.

When salt and water are mixed, they release water vapor. Humidipaks exploit this principle to create and maintain very precise levels of water vapor in your humidor. They are sold by Boveda and each pack contains enough salt and water to generate exactly 65%, 69%, 72% or 75% humidity. The ingredients are contained in a semi-permeable membrane which enables Humidipaks to release water and reabsorb it if necessary, so that humidity is always maintained at the right level. One pack is enough to humidify 25 cigars. Add as much as you need. They can be stuck to the top of your humidor or placed directly on your cigars. You can even add as many as you like. Extra Humidipaks won't saturate your cigars: they'll just extend their life. Disadvantages Humidipaks need to be replaced relatively often, at least every 2 to 3 months. It all depends on the conditions inside your humidor. Eventually, the water runs out and the wrappers become hard and stiff. Humidipaks sell for around 4 euros a pack. This is not very expensive compared with foam, silica pearls or crystal gel, which sell for around 10 euros and 20 euros. However, if you have a large cigar collection, these costs can add up quickly over the long term.

Unlike the other cigar humidifiers we've previously presented, electronic humidifiers are active humidifiers. They monitor relative humidity using electronic sensors, and release moisture whenever the level drops too low. Water is stored in a refillable cartridge at the bottom of the humidifier, and must be refilled with distilled water every month. Cartridges should be replaced about once a year. Electronic cigar humidifiers are either powered by batteries or ribbon cables coming out of your humidor, or plugged into an external power source. Ribbon cables are thin enough not to break the seal on your humidor, putting your cigars at risk. However, some collectors find them messy and cumbersome. Electronic cigar humidors come with built-in thermometers and hygrometers that monitor and display temperature and humidity. Some even feature alarms that alert you in a variety of situations, including if the water cartridge needs refilling or the battery needs replacing. The Hydra and Cigar Oasis humidifier brands are among the most popular. Disadvantages The only major disadvantage of electronic cigar humidifiers is the price. The best brands cost in excess of 100.00 CHF. Final considerations Cigar humidifiers require maintenance and must be actively monitored to keep them working properly. Remember when to refill or replace it. Also make sure you know if there's any risk of it releasing too much moisture or saturating your cigars.