How to Season a Humidor and Set It Up (Desktop, Cabinet and Electric)

Seasoning a humidor means bringing the Spanish cedar inside it up to the right moisture level before any cigars go in. Skip it, and the dry wood pulls moisture out of your cigars for weeks. It takes two days to two weeks depending on the method, and it costs little more than a bottle of distilled water. Here is how to season and set up a desktop humidor, a cabinet humidor and an electric humidor, step by step.

Why you have to season a new humidor

Wood is hygroscopic: it absorbs moisture from the air. A new humidor arrives with dry cedar, and that cedar will take moisture from wherever it can, including your cigars. Seasoning fills the wood first, so it holds moisture and helps keep humidity steady instead of fighting it. It also swells the wood slightly, which helps the lid or doors seal (Boveda).

The target once seasoned is 65–72% relative humidity at about 65–70°F (Cigar Aficionado). Keep it below 72°F and 72% humidity, where tobacco beetles can hatch.

What you need

• Distilled water, about a gallon. Never tap water; its minerals can cause mold and clog humidifiers.
• A clean, new sponge with no soap or scent, and a small plastic bag or dish to set it on.
• A hygrometer, ideally digital.
• A humidifier sized to the humidor: passive or packs for a desktop box, an electronic unit for a cabinet. See how humidors work for sizing.
• Table salt and a sealable bag for the hygrometer test.

Step 1: Test your hygrometer

Do this first, so you can trust every reading that follows. Put a bottle cap of table salt with a few drops of water (damp, not dissolved) in a sealable bag with the hygrometer, and leave it for at least eight hours. The air in the bag sits at exactly 75% humidity, so the hygrometer should read 75% (NewAir). If it reads 72%, either adjust it or remember to add 3 points.

How to season a desktop humidor

The sponge method (2–3 days)

1. Wet the sponge with distilled water and wring it out until it is damp, not dripping.
2. Lightly wipe all exposed cedar: walls, lid, trays and dividers. The wood should look slightly darker, never wet or pooled.
3. Charge your humidifier with distilled water or PG solution and put it in place.
4. Put the damp sponge on a plastic bag or dish inside, so it doesn't touch the wood, and close the lid.
5. Check the next day. If the sponge is dry, add more distilled water. Repeat for another night or two (Cigar Aficionado).
6. Remove the sponge once the hygrometer holds steady in the 65–72% range for a full day.

The humidity pack method (14 days)

Place 84% seasoning packs in the empty humidor and leave the lid closed for 14 days without opening it, whatever the hygrometer says. Then remove them and switch to 65–72% packs for daily use. Boveda recommends one size-60 pack per 25 cigars of capacity (Boveda). Slower, but almost impossible to get wrong.

How to set up a cabinet humidor

A cabinet humidor has many times the cedar of a desktop box, so it takes longer and needs a proper electronic humidifier. Wiping every shelf by hand isn't practical in a large cabinet; let the humidifier do the work.

1. Place it first. Away from windows, heating and air-conditioning vents, and direct sun. Level it so the doors close and seal evenly.
2. Install the humidifier. Fill the electronic humidifier with distilled water, plug it into the interior outlet, and set it to 70%.
3. Add a moisture boost. Put one or two bowls of distilled water with a damp sponge on the shelves to speed things up.
4. Close the doors and wait. Most cabinets need 3–7 days. Refill the humidifier when its alarm sounds.
5. Load gradually. Once it holds 65–72% for 24 hours, remove the bowls and add cigars a few boxes at a time over several days. Cigars bring their own moisture and help stabilize the cabinet.

For cigar lockers and large display cabinets, the manufacturer recommends the more powerful Hydra Turbo.

How to set up an electric humidor

Electric humidors control temperature and humidity with a compressor and controller, so seasoning is mostly automatic. Let the cabinet stand upright for the time the manual specifies before switching it on (compressor oil needs to settle after shipping), fill the reservoir with distilled water, set the temperature and humidity, and run it empty until readings hold steady for a day or two. Then add cigars gradually. Always follow the manufacturer's manual for your model.

Mistakes that ruin a new humidor

• Soaking the wood. Pooled water warps cedar and can crack the finish. Damp, never wet.
• Using tap water. Minerals leave deposits and encourage mold.
• Wiping the cedar with PG solution. Use distilled water on the wood; PG belongs in the humidifier.
• Loading cigars on day one. The wood will take moisture from them.
• Trusting an untested hygrometer. Many are off by 5% or more out of the box.
• Opening it constantly to check. Every opening lets humidity out; check once a day.

Keeping it right after setup

Check the hygrometer every few days at first, then weekly. Refill the humidifier with distilled water, re-test the hygrometer every six months, and re-season if the humidor has sat empty and dry for a long time. If humidity runs high, take some water out of the humidifier or lower the setting rather than leaving the lid open.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to season a humidor?

Two to three days for a desktop humidor with the sponge method, 14 days with seasoning packs, and about 3–7 days for a cabinet with an electronic humidifier.

Can I season a humidor with tap water?

No. Use distilled water only. Tap water's minerals encourage mold and clog humidifiers.

Do I need to season an electric humidor?

It needs to run empty until it holds your settings, usually a day or two. Its humidity system does the work.

My humidor won't get above 60%. What's wrong?

Usually the wood is still absorbing moisture, the humidifier is too small, or a seal leaks. Give it more time, check the humidifier size, and try the dollar-bill test on the lid.

Do I have to season a humidor again?

Only if it has dried out, for example after sitting empty for months. Re-season it the same way.

Setting up a cabinet, locker wall or a whole cigar room? Call (985) 531-8513 and we'll walk you through it.

Sources: Cigar Aficionado, Boveda and NewAir as linked above; Hydra and Humidor Supreme manufacturer instructions. Updated October 2026.