How to Season a New Humidor with Boveda Packs

By Finck Cigar Company | Published: 2026-10-25

Category: How-to Guides

Learn how to properly season a new humidor using Boveda humidity packs. This step-by-step guide ensures your cigar storage is ready for long-term freshness.

Quick answer

Season a new humidor by placing Boveda 84% RH packs inside for 14 days. This raises the wood humidity to a stable level before adding cigars.

Why Seasoning Matters

A new humidor's Spanish cedar is dry and will absorb moisture from your cigars if not conditioned first. Seasoning saturates the wood so it maintains a consistent relative humidity (RH) once you add your smokes. Skipping this step can lead to dry cigars and cracked wrappers.

Boveda vs. Traditional Methods

Traditional seasoning uses a sponge and distilled water, which risks over-saturating the wood and causing warping. Boveda packs provide a controlled, maintenance-free alternative that delivers a steady 84% RH without guesswork. They also eliminate the need to wipe down surfaces, reducing the chance of mold.

Step-by-Step Seasoning Process

1. Prepare the Humidor: Remove any existing trays, dividers, or hygrometers. Wipe the interior with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove dust. Do not use water or any cleaning solution. Check that the humidor seal is airtight by closing the lid and feeling for resistance.
2. Add Boveda 84% Packs: Place enough Boveda 84% seasoning packs inside the humidor to cover the bottom. For a standard 50-count humidor, use 4 packs. Close the lid and leave undisturbed for 14 days. Do not open the lid during this period. Each opening allows moisture to escape and extends the seasoning time.
3. Verify the Humidity: After 14 days, calibrate your hygrometer (salt test or Boveda calibration kit) and place it inside. The reading should stabilize at 84% RH. If it's lower, close the lid and wait another 2-3 days. An uncalibrated hygrometer can give false readings. Always verify accuracy before trusting the display.
4. Switch to Maintenance Packs: Remove the 84% packs and replace them with Boveda 72% or 69% packs, depending on your preference. Let the humidor stabilize for 24 hours before adding cigars. Use one 60-gram pack per 25 cigars of capacity. For smaller humidors, the 8-gram mini packs work well for travel cases.

Products We Recommend

Boveda Humi-Pack 8 Gram Mini: Boveda 8 Gram Mini 72% Humidity Packs provide maintenance-free humidity control for travel humidors, cigar bags, small storage containers, and retail packaging. This bulk box contains 300 individually sealed packs. While 84% packs are ideal for seasoning, 72% packs like these are perfect for maintaining your humidor at the optimal smoking humidity after seasoning is complete.
Boveda Humi-Pack 8 Gram Mini