Q: I purchased a few three and five packs of cigars that are housed in a cardboard container. Should I put the entire container in my humidor?

A: Some aficionados place the entire cardboard container in their humidor as they would a cedar box. I recommend removal of the cardboard packaging before storage for a few reasons. First, cardboard is an organic material like Spanish cedar; however, cardboard differs in the sense that it does not have any natural anti-fungal properties. Damp cardboard is an ideal breeding ground for potential mold spores. Secondly, dyes used in decorating the container may bleed onto the humidor’s lining or the wrappers of unprotected cigars over time.

photograph by martemadrid