Cigar Weekly

fatshotbud · 05-02-2006, 06:47 PM

Recently picked up some cigars that come in varnished boxes (05).....
The varnish odor is really noticable if you smell the outside (no smell inside that i noticed).

i think the varnish was either not cured enough or possible moisture got on it when being packaged.

I put the closed wooden box back into the cardboard outer box it was shipped in and put into a humidor.

I am worried that the smell might eventually migrate throught the cardboard to other boxes in the humidor - what can I do.

Smoker06 · 05-02-2006, 08:20 PM

Hmmm, maybe you could take them out of that box and put them in another box?

Herfnerd · 05-03-2006, 04:29 AM

Don't put any varnished boxes in your humi or cooler. It won't allow the smokes to 'breathe'

fatshotbud · 05-03-2006, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herfnerd

Don't put any varnished boxes in your humi or cooler. It won't allow the smokes to 'breathe'

Ahhh the old breath or not to breath

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoker06

Hmmm, maybe you could take them out of that box and put them in another box?

Good old Tim (xrundog) PM'd me some good information on the subject; also recommending relocation of cigars and work on getting the varnish cured out.

Headbanger · 05-03-2006, 06:09 PM

Fatshot, would you or xrun like to share those ideas with us please ? I recently have a fully varnished box from 02, but I never smelled the outside. But the inside is like a bouquet of wild flowers I tell ya.

From what I read, the idea of the varnished box is for serious long term storage anyway. So me thinks the idea of breathing them is sorta mute.

nunee · 05-03-2006, 10:35 PM

Hmmmmmmm, a varnish-o-dor. Never thought of that. I was thinking of making a fridge-o-dor, maybe I'll try that.

Black Plague · 05-04-2006, 12:32 AM

Speaking of "breathing," MRN's book has really shed some light on that subject for me. In years to come, I hope to experiment more with it. For those who haven't read the Good Book (as I call it

), Min Ron Nee muses that the popular "breathing" (allow cigars to get plenty of air in the humidor, i.e. not putting them in cabs, tubes, or other packaging that constricts airflow) knowledge is popular because Zino Davidoff recommended it in his books on Havana cigars. He believe this works for cigars in the short term, as more air speeds up fermentation and gets rid of ammonia faster.

But, MRN believes that in the long term, a cigar aged very slowly in a tube, varnished box, cab, etc. will become better because the packaging will keep the essential oils from evaporating so quickly and ultimately create a better cigar.

Can't remember who it was (to lazy to do a search right now), but a member here seems to have had similar results with vacuum-sealing boxes of cigars, letting them set for many years, and then opening them up to smoke them.

So it seems its best to let a cigar "breathe" if you intend to smoke it within a few years, but keep the air out as much as possible if you plan to age it for many years.

xrundog · 05-04-2006, 08:24 AM

All I said was the problem isn't an uncommon one. I suggested putting the cigars in the humidor unboxed or in a different container. Allow the box to cure, rebox the cigars when the box is ready.

bigpuff · 05-04-2006, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoker06

Hmmm, maybe you could take them out of that box and put them in another box?

Sounds like good advice.

The Puff

fatshotbud · 05-05-2006, 08:01 PM

I contacted the vendor where the boxes were purchased from.
Was told that they used "Orange Oil" to remove some health warning stickers that (when they were applied) had overlapped onto the varnished area.
I am going to relocate the cigars and rub down the boxes real good.
Then I will set them out (closed) to dry/cure. Figure on placing a couple humid packs inside so they remained seasoned for use.
After a sufficient time for the odor to disappear - I will restock the boxes and place them into a humidor.

That's the plan

05-02-2006, 06:47 PM	#1
fatshotbud Herf Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Having lunch at the "Y" Posts: 5,307	Varnish odor.... Recently picked up some cigars that come in varnished boxes (05)..... The varnish odor is really noticable if you smell the outside (no smell inside that i noticed). i think the varnish was either not cured enough or possible moisture got on it when being packaged. I put the closed wooden box back into the cardboard outer box it was shipped in and put into a humidor. I am worried that the smell might eventually migrate throught the cardboard to other boxes in the humidor - what can I do. __________________ I may never have much money but I am blessed with the riches of a family who loves me and friends that care. Life is good!

05-02-2006, 08:20 PM	#2
Smoker06 Herf God Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 11,099	Hmmm, maybe you could take them out of that box and put them in another box? __________________ When in doubt.... ATTACK!

05-03-2006, 04:29 AM	#3
Herfnerd Club Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Fort Mill, SC Posts: 1,817	Don't put any varnished boxes in your humi or cooler. It won't allow the smokes to 'breathe' __________________ Smoke 'em if ya got 'em

05-03-2006, 10:35 PM	#6
nunee Club Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 1,543	Hmmmmmmm, a varnish-o-dor. Never thought of that. I was thinking of making a fridge-o-dor, maybe I'll try that. __________________ --------------------------------------------------- Insert Signature Here

05-05-2006, 08:01 PM	#10
fatshotbud Herf Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Having lunch at the "Y" Posts: 5,307	I contacted the vendor where the boxes were purchased from. Was told that they used "Orange Oil" to remove some health warning stickers that (when they were applied) had overlapped onto the varnished area. I am going to relocate the cigars and rub down the boxes real good. Then I will set them out (closed) to dry/cure. Figure on placing a couple humid packs inside so they remained seasoned for use. After a sufficient time for the odor to disappear - I will restock the boxes and place them into a humidor. That's the plan __________________ I may never have much money but I am blessed with the riches of a family who loves me and friends that care. Life is good!

05-03-2006, 06:09 PM	#5
Headbanger Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mid-Atlantic Posts: 354	Fatshot, would you or xrun like to share those ideas with us please ? I recently have a fully varnished box from 02, but I never smelled the outside. But the inside is like a bouquet of wild flowers I tell ya. From what I read, the idea of the varnished box is for serious long term storage anyway. So me thinks the idea of breathing them is sorta mute.

05-04-2006, 12:32 AM	#7
Black Plague Herf Meister Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 7,650	Speaking of "breathing," MRN's book has really shed some light on that subject for me. In years to come, I hope to experiment more with it. For those who haven't read the Good Book (as I call it ), Min Ron Nee muses that the popular "breathing" (allow cigars to get plenty of air in the humidor, i.e. not putting them in cabs, tubes, or other packaging that constricts airflow) knowledge is popular because Zino Davidoff recommended it in his books on Havana cigars. He believe this works for cigars in the short term, as more air speeds up fermentation and gets rid of ammonia faster. But, MRN believes that in the long term, a cigar aged very slowly in a tube, varnished box, cab, etc. will become better because the packaging will keep the essential oils from evaporating so quickly and ultimately create a better cigar. Can't remember who it was (to lazy to do a search right now), but a member here seems to have had similar results with vacuum-sealing boxes of cigars, letting them set for many years, and then opening them up to smoke them. So it seems its best to let a cigar "breathe" if you intend to smoke it within a few years, but keep the air out as much as possible if you plan to age it for many years.

05-04-2006, 08:24 AM	#8
xrundog Contributing Editor Herf Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central, Iowa Posts: 9,806	All I said was the problem isn't an uncommon one. I suggested putting the cigars in the humidor unboxed or in a different container. Allow the box to cure, rebox the cigars when the box is ready.