Expert: M J Robbins - 2/10/2009

Question
The Madelaine humidifier doesn't use a sponge. So you don't soak it in water. The humidifier uses crystal gel that you soak in Madelaine's Propylene Glycol Solution. That's why I asked about using both together as both products seem similar in nature. what are your thoughts?

Answer
The Boveda just makes things easy, all my customers use them and swear by them.
The others devices are planes.
Boveda is the Space shuttle.
They use a plane to take the Space Shuttle to launch - Humidification sponges like Madelaine are the base, then add Boveda to take it to the upper stratosphere of perfection.

Madelaine humdifier.
The crystals soak up water like a sponge.
The Madelaine sollution is water and propylene glycol that protects against mold and reduces humidity.
You can soak the device in distilled water -not- sollution to give you higher humidity and that's what you said you needed. Then add 2 Boveda and that will bring up humidity to the level you want and give you the mold protection that is in the sollution from Madelaine.
So the option is to use a few Boveda 72% packets to spread humidity around and bring it up with science, never worrying again about an improperly humidified cigar.
Or just double up on the Madelaine device if you like and have a digital hygrometer to make sure you don't overhumidify. In this scenario check it regularly and if humidity is high open the box and blow around every day - this will lower humdity a few percent - or take one of the 2 devices out when humidity is high and put it back in when humidity is low.
I use a combination of Boveda and a different "sponge like" system, Abey, to maintain perfect humidtiy in the humidor I have in my home. Used in conjunction with "Abey humdifier" the Boveda loses very little water in Anaheim California climate and I soak the Abey device every 4 weeks in distilled water replacing the Boveda around every 4 months.

Each Bóveda packet consists of a specially prepared saturated solution of pure water, natural salt and specially formulatd mold inhibitor. This saturated solution is contained within a water-vapor permeable reverse osmosis membrane. In a sealed environment my tests show these packets can last for several months and keep mold from growing even when left in my garage at triple digit temperatures all summer long.  Within a closed desktop humidor Bóveda maintains a predetermined level of (RH) by releasing or absorbing purified water-vapor-as needed-through the membrane. Bóveda packs are only to be used once, they are not refillable. You lay them right on top of the cigars because moisture falls, layer them if you want to spread out the humidity. They become very stiff when the contents are spent.
These packs are used by Arturo Fuente, Carlos Torano and CAO. Also these devices are used with wood instruments like priceless violins to keep the wood at the proper humidity for tone.
MJR