For the lining of the interior of the humidor mainly four kinds of wood are used:
1) Spanish cedar (by far the most popular)
2) American (Canadian) red cedar
3) Honduras mohagany
4) Sapelly (frequently used with cabinet humidors particularly from Spain)
The following advantages are contributed to the Spanish cedar:
Protection from worms - by the special odoriferous substances of the cedar wood ...
High absorption capacity of humidity - this ensures an even climate will be maintained inside the humidor ...
Support of the ripening process of cigars
Positive effect on the flavor of the cigars
Spanish cedar wood does not come as one might assume from Spain, but is generally imported from Brazil and other countries of South and Central America. Apart from the advantages specified above, the Spanish cedar wood has a small fault. It can form, in individual cases, resin on the surface of the wood. The risk of the encountering resin can be substantially reduced by previous drying of the wood. However the risk can unfotunately not be eliminated completely.
American red cedar is inferior to the Spanish cedar in the receptiveness of humidity and unfolds a more intensive smell. Some humidor manufactueres use the American cedar, since with this wood the danger of encountering resin is omitted. Especially when storing the cigars for longer periods of time in the humidor, the cigars will adopt a strong wooden flavor that is generally not desired.
Honduras mahogany possesses a receptiveness of humidity that is comparable to that of Spanish cedar and at the same time has a less intensive smell. Thus unfortunately also the deterring effect on worms and the desired flavoring cigars is not as good as with Spanish cedar.
Sapelly is used frequently for the production of humidor cabinets. Since the cigars are generally stored in boxes of Spanish cedar, the interior wood of these cabinet humidors only be able to absorb a high percentage at humidity. This characteristic fulfills the low-priced Sapelly. Frequently additionally for the storage of individual cigars a tray from Spanish cedar is provided.
In each case the veneer of the interior wood should be untreated and should have a width of 0,6 cm.
For the long-term storage of cigars, those humidors should be preferred, which are lined with Spanish Zedernholz. For cabinet humidors, where cigars are stored in boxes any wood that posses a good absorption rate can be used. As second choice also other kinds of soft wood can be used for humidor lining, if cigars are not stored for longer periods of time in the humidor and are consumed within short time.
