Expert: James Yee - 1/21/2010

Question
We recently designed a walk in humidor for a small market. In the original design we specified Spanish cedar for the walls, ceiling and shelves.  The contractor substituted a wood called Okume which aesthetically is okay but has not odor.  It is also dimensionally stable with high moisture as it's an exterior siding product. The cigar vendor has made an objection to the wood.  Since it has no odor to impart to the cigars do you any reasons why it wouldn't work. They are proposing adding a thin veneer of Spanish cedar but I don't' see a lot of benefit to the owner spending money on it. Have you seen many other linings besides cedar?
thanks

Answer
Hi Rodney,

Spanish cedar is actually very important for cigars.  The aroma will compliment and enhance the cigars' natural scent and the natural oils in the wood will assist in proper cigar aging.  Using a more neutral-scented wood such as Okoumé can actually cause the cigars to smell and taste bland.

Although Okoumé wood is used in cigar boxes, Spanish cedar is more ideal as the aroma and natural oils help promote a more healthy aging of the cigars and this is very important to the customers and retailer.  Even a thin veneer of Spanish cedar will greatly improve the condition of the cigars stored in that walk-in humidor.

Also, the contractor must only use Spanish cedar and not any other type of cedar (ie: American Red cedar) as other types of cedar are far too pungent in aroma and their highly strong scent can actually ruin cigars and cause them to smell and taste like cedar and this is a bad thing.

Hopes this answers your question.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James