For people who smoke stogies, it can become something of an obsession. As time passes, cigar smokers frequently develop precise rituals that they adhere to every time they smoke a smoke, and can be quite obsessive about how they protect their stogies. If you’re not familiar with this obsession of smoking the ‘perfect’ cigar, then you also probably don’t understand the necessity for a cigar humidor. The basic purpose of a cigar humidor is to both store and protect cigars. Many cigar enthusiasts believe that cigars need to be stored at a precise temperature in order to maintain their peak flavor. That’s’s precisely what the cigar humidor does – maintains a constant temperature. You shouldn’t have to store machine made cigars like your Black and Milds in a humidor. Opinions change, but it’s’s generally thought the range between 68 and seventy degrees Fahrenheit is perfect for cigars. The humidity also has to be controlled, and kept at a level typically 70-72% humidity. Cigar backers have long discussed about the ideal temperature required for the storing of cigars. Some demand that even a slight fluctuation in temperature can prove detrimental to the flavour of their cigars, and insist on a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Others are a little more flexible and allow a slight amount of temperature fluctuation. Usually all of them agree that the lower the temperature, the faster the cigar will age, which will then bring about a reduction in flavour. If you want to maintain the flavor, integrity and color of your fave smokes, then a cigar humidor is critical. What features should you look out for when getting a cigar humidor? The one necessary feature is that it has to be absolutely closed once the lid is shut. If the lid isn’t snug and secure, then it’s possible that the temperature or humidity inside will fluctuate. A lid that’s’s tight also prevents any other outside elements contaminating the cigars, and stops any moisture exchange. It’s helpful if the inside of the cigar humidor is smooth and uninterrupted, to prevent snagging of cigars ( or fingers ). It’s also helpful to have fittings inside the humidor to help in the keeping of the smokes.