How do you judge a good humidor? It all depends upon your needs. For example, if you are someone who is just beginning to purchase premium cigars, and who intends to use them over the short term rather than aging them, then a small box is probably a good way to begin. On the other hand, if you are someone who is a true aficionado, you can benefit from a cabinet style or a larger box instead.
Interestingly enough, the popularity of premium cigars has made humidors one of the most frequently purchased items, and they can now be found as furniture-quality pieces that can stand on their own in any home or office. They can also be found as elaborate and well-made desktop pieces, and even as durable travel items too. The key is to ensure that the quality of construction guarantees the right and desired results.
Now, about that lining, it should be Spanish cedar only, with no allowable exceptions to the rule. Why? Well, a humidor is just that, humid, and this means that the wood should be well-prepared to deal with the constant level of moisture without warping or developing mold and mildew. The only known answer to that set of requirements is Spanish cedar, and an additional bonus to using this wood is that it is also highly aromatic which often imparts an appealing scent or flavor to the tobacco as well.
One thing to look for in any model is a lining made entirely of cedar, usually the Spanish cedar variant. This is because the wood is extremely porous and will absorb a regular level of moisture which then provides a steady supply of humidity to the air and the cigars inside of the box. If you opt for anything other than cedar you may find yourself battling mold or other problems because the cedar is also able to combat these issues along with creating a humid environment.
The long-term storage solutions should allow the optimal conditions to remain in place without any sort of fluctuations occurring. Opening the lid or door of the humidor is going to change the humidity levels and even the temperature. This means that choosing a glass-front or glass-lidded box is often a good way to monitor the humidity without changing it in any way at all.
Ryder is a consultant for an online specialty cigar lighters store and has expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including zippo lighters.