Why you should never put an unfinished cigar back in the humidor

Q. What can I do if someone put a partially smoked cigar in my humidor? It has been open for a couple weeks and I can still smell the aroma of a burnt, unfinished cigar. – Jeff P.

A. Great question. First, I would have the kneecaps broken of the “someone” in question. (Just kidding!) Seriously, you might want to try lightly sanding down the entire inside of the box – from top to bottom – with a very fine grit sandpaper. If the walls are removable, so much the better, and easier. The sanding will expose a fresh layer of cedar, and should expel the ashy odor. Be sure to clean all surfaces of dust. You can use a little hobby vacuum or the long, flat “corners” extension that attaches to the hose of your household vacuum.

I would then re-prep the box, which it probably needs by now from being open so long. Even if the box still has some trace of burnt tobacco odor, hopefully it will be so subtle that once the box is refilled with cigars, the odor of the fresh tobaccos will eventually seep into the walls, and you should be fine.

I would also recommend the Boveda One-Step Seasoning Kit for the humidor and the Boveda One-Step Calibration Kit for your hygrometer. These products are very inexpensive and may help you get back on track more easily.

Finally, next time, if that “someone” wants to resume smoking their unfinished cigar at a later time, tell them to use a tool like a Cigar Savor.