How can you tell if it's Spanish cedar?

Hey all:

I have been lurking here for some time but I've recently registered so I can get some advice (hopefully). I recently bought a humidor using eBay (I know, I know) and I think I got a dud. :smiley21: The cedar aroma is overpowering my smokes!

I have other humidors and when I open them I get just a hint of cedar smell. The new humidor smells like a cedar chest designed to protect clothes from moths! My cigars taste like cedar :smiley19: and I'm thinking that the cedar in the humidor is not Spanish cedar as was advertised.

My question is, how can I be sure? How do you tell the difference between Spanish cedar and regular cedar? I need some authoritative advice in order to square this with the vendor and either get a decent humidor or get my $ back.

Any advice?

Thanks,

Michael

Your post clearly indicates that your "humidor" is not lined with Spanish Cedar. My understanding about "regular" cedar and Spanish Cedar is that the Spanish variety is less aromatic and that is why other varieties are commonly called "Aromatic Cedar".

Aromatic cedar is commonly used in chests, closet accessories and shoe trees. Besides the pleasant aroma it gives off it also deters moths from invading ones wardrobe.

From my understanding the cedar wraps on cigars and in ones humidore whould not inpart an overpowering cedar flavor. You may get a hint of cedar in properly stored cigars.

I would definately return the "humidor" and get your money back. How much did you pay? Cheaphumidors.com has great deals - thats where I got mine. I love it.

I would agree with mr. ewing on this one. unfortunately it looks like a bad deal in this case. Have you taken it it up with the vendor yet?

Sounds like yours is Red Cedar (read the following link....it will tell you what you want to know)

http://www.humidor-guide.com/humidor...cedar-1-1.php3

Good luck...let us know what happens.

Thanks for the replies. I have heard form the vendor who stated that the humidor does contain Spanish cedar and that I am the only customer who has complained about the odor despite selling "over a thousand" humidors. I checked out his eBay feedback and there were no complaints regarding the odor.

Is it posible that the humidor is so new that the odor is stronger? I am airing it out to see because it honestly does not appear to be red cedar. I'll see if the smell levels out some. The vendor said he will take it back (minus shipping - both ways :smiley13: ) but I'm going to see if airing out the humidor helps.

Thanks again for the replies (and the excellent link). This forum is always very informative. :smiley20:

Michael

without smelling it firsthand, it's hard to say i guess, but I personally think that if the smell is strong enough to effect the taste of your smokes there would be a strong case against it being spanish cedar.

As far as you saying it doesn't appear to be red cedar, as far as i know it isn't very easy to tell other than the amount of odor which is which. The name "red cedar" comes from the cones on the tree.

Anyway, best of luck.

Paul
aka
labmonkey

Post this guys link on ebay or a picture of the humidor. I'm interested in at least seeing it:)

I got one like this (only for less $ :smiley2: ) I've seen the same one at other vendor's sites with the same description. Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Michael

I think it is probably right.... Maybe it just smells strong cause its so new... If you get your cigars wrapped in celo I would leave it on. It will help minimize the amount of cedar taste that is transfered to your cigars. I think you got a nice humidor there. Looks almost exactly like mine and it should serve you well! I bought an extra humidifier for mine to help maintain the humidity.

I have been airing it out for the last few days and I put baking soda in a dish inside over night with the lid closed. This morning the smell was not as strong. I'm going to keep airing it out for a few more days, rehumidify it and try again with some of my cheaper smokes. :smiley2:

I'll let you know how it goes. I'm hoping it's going to work.

Thanks again for all of the assistance,

Michael

I wanted to post an update. After airing out the humidor for a couple of weeks I have rehumidified it and stored some of my cheaper smokes inside. I tried one last night and it was fine, no cedar taste. I have also noticed that the cedar aroma is not so strong when I open the humidor lately, more like my other ones.

Has anyone else ever had such a "green" humidor that had to be aired out? The other two I've purchased (one desktop and one for travel) have been fine to use upon receipt.

Just wondering,

Michael

Air it out for a week or so.

Than properly re-season it.

How did you season your humidor?

ALso what are you using to maintain humidity?

I did not air out the first two humidors I purchased. I merely filled the humidifier, calibrated the hygromoter, and filled it with my smokes once the humidity was correct.

I season the humidors by filling the humidifier and placing a cup of distilled water inside the humidifier. Once the proper humidity is achieved I remove the cup and put my cigars in. I use a 50/50 solution of distilled water and propylene glycol in the humidifier.

Michael

Hello everyone. I don't know how old this post is as I forgot to check, but I have a question about the humidors from cheaphumidors.com. I bought one from them, and I am very satisfied with it so far.

My question however is about the construction of these humidors. The one I got seems to be made from 100% spanish cedar wood topped off with a veneer for good looks. Is this a good way to build these things for longevity? I have heard and read that one should use a hardwood, then apply a spanish cedar lining as thick as 3/8 of an inch...which I have seen.

What do you guys think about this? D oyou see any ill effects coming from building a humidor almost completely from spanish cedar? Any thoughts?

Thanks a bunch and hope I can impart some advice for others as I learn more myself. I'm even beginning a project right now to build a custom humidor from white oak with the aforementioned 3/8 thick spanish cedar or maybe even a bit thicker along with solid brass quadrant hinges etc.

Flying

Well, I have to say is....


Your first post to this board should be something of an intro. Hey, I'm (insert name here) and (and something here) Not, I have a question about humi's.

Welcome to CSmokers.

Sounds like it wasn't dried enough. Watch out for any resin leakage that you need to wipe off before it hits your smokes.

I agree with Lopaka, but at least you're not trying to sell your homemade humi filled with "genuine Cohibas you got in Cuba and you now have to sell to finance your new kidney"!

So, welcome to Csmokers!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lopaka

Well, I have to say is....


Your first post to this board should be something of an intro. Hey, I'm (insert name here) and (and something here) Not, I have a question about humi's.

Welcome to CSmokers.

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Well welllll.....nice hello to you too. Hope everyone else is more friendly then you. :smiley17: haha

Anyway, I did an introduction of myself. It's entitled "Please allow me to introduce myself." http://www.cigarsmokers.com/t3825-pl...ce-myself.html

Anyhow, I think that maybe I put my last post in this topic in the wrong place. Anybody have an idea about the quality or pros and cons of an all spanish cedar humi? Glad to be a member!

Flying

PS. At least I didnt start yet one more thread on "How do I season my humidor."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by heftysmokes

I agree with Lopaka, but at least you're not trying to sell your homemade humi filled with "genuine Cohibas you got in Cuba and you now have to sell to finance your new kidney"!

So, welcome to Csmokers!

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lolol...You must be referring to my post about the propylene glycol ....right?
Thanks for the quick replies!

Flying

Flying Bananna, if I didn't know better, I'd say you are just trying to generate posts by asking any off-the-wall question you can think of.

Quote:

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Anybody have an idea about the quality or pros and cons of an all spanish cedar humi?

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This question could be answered by doing a search on this forum or better-yet on Google. I think you shoud limit your "probing, insightful" questions to one per day or better yet...save a whole bunch of them up and ask them all at once. That way we could say something like:

"Yes, Spanish Cedar is the best. No, you cannot use tap water. Get Heartfelt Beads. No, analog hygrometers are not very good. Try the newbie sampler. Yes, Chinese-made humidors are good enough. No, cigars don't marry that quickly. Bands on or off doesn't matter, but take them off. Cellophane on or off doesn't matter. Mold has texture, bloom doesn't. You can smoke any cigar you are man enough to smoke regardless of condition. The best cigar is up to the individual. The best drink is up to the individual...., etc."

:smiley31:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FlyingBanana

lolol...You must be referring to my post about the propylene glycol ....right?
Thanks for the quick replies!

Flying

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Wrong.

I was referring to the fact that 7 out of 10 new people on this board are trying to give us a great deal on dog rockets in a glass-top box.

This is also why we like people to introduce themselves and get to know the membership before trying to sell us things...

I'm relatively new to this board and feel that I am still working on building a good reputation with the guys who've been here and made this board what it is. That's one reason why I still haven't tried to sell anything, haven't asked for anything that wasn't offered, and haven't cocked off to a guy who has made more contributions to this board than 95% of the membership.

If you think Lopaka wasn't friendly, make another comment like this.... "Well welllll.....nice hello to you too. Hope everyone else is more friendly then [sic] you. :smiley17: "

You'll find that there are a lot of guys on here who can be much more "unfriendly."

An interesting thing I learned from a woodwoker around here is that most low end humidors are not lined with actual spanish cedar, but instead a less aromatic ceder or a mohogany. Actual spanish cedar tends to go to guitar makers, because they will pay a much higher price. That's why you see spanish cedar only as a lining, not as the material for the whole humidor.

I love you guys. Great sense of humor. lol

Ok..let's start off again. Hi. My name is Mark and I am a cigaraholic and I don't want to get better.

I apologize if you guys thought I was being sarcastic, just asking questions to get a post up or what not. I was being entirely serious about the spanish cedar question though. I am not referring to only the liner in the humidor, but rather the entire thing being made up of 1/2 inch thick cedar.

Sorry that you guys took me the wrong way. I am very much a cigar guy computer tech budding humidor builder etc.

Flying

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MCsommerreid

An interesting thing I learned from a woodwoker around here is that most low end humidors are not lined with actual spanish cedar, but instead a less aromatic ceder or a mohogany. Actual spanish cedar tends to go to guitar makers, because they will pay a much higher price. That's why you see spanish cedar only as a lining, not as the material for the whole humidor.

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Very interesting MC. I can say that the humi I just got does have a very mild cedar smell, and the owner does insist that it is sc lined though I do not see a lining. It appears to be built of solid sc.

Flying

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FlyingBanana

Very interesting MC. I can say that the humi I just got does have a very mild cedar smell, and the owner does insist that it is sc lined though I do not see a lining. It appears to be built of solid sc.

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Was it somewhat expensive for it's size? If it was it's likely solid spanish cedar, meaning that your $100 humidor in pure spanish cedar would likely run $150. I've seen it most often at $10 a board foot.

If not, it's likely something damn close far as properties go. A few mohogonies and cedars share similar characteristics with spanish cedar like light scent and bug repelling properties.