Black, understated, and enhanced by a brushed metal latch with a brass finish, the CARTEL cigar humidor combines everything needed to store and light your cigars in a single desk-top box. Its lid opens to reveal two glass windows that allow you to view your collection without letting humidity escape, and the interior is entirely lined with cedar wood, the gold standard for humidors. It accommodates 20 to 35 cigars depending on their size, with a removable cedar divider to organize different formats. Beneath the main compartment, an accessory drawer keeps your cigar cutter and lighter close at hand. The CARTEL comes as a complete set: a needle hygrometer embedded in the lid, a bar humidifier, and a triple-torch lighter with a built-in punch. Measuring 23.5 x 18.1 x 11.7 cm, this cigar box fits perfectly on a desk, console table, or bookshelf, making it a ready-to-gift choice for both beginners and seasoned smokers.
Cedar wood
Why cedar lines the inside of humidors
Since the 19th century, cigar boxes and humidors have been lined with cedar, specifically "Spanish cedar," a wood from Central America used by Cuban manufacturers for their boxes. This light, soft wood has three qualities that made it the industry standard: it absorbs and releases moisture slowly, which smooths out fluctuations within the humidor; it releases a subtle woody fragrance that complements the aging of cigars; and it is naturally resistant to insects, including the dreaded tobacco beetle.
In the CARTEL, cedar lines the bottom, walls, lid, and divider. Before storing your cigars, this wood must be seasoned for the first time (known as "seasoning"): because it is dry upon delivery, it would otherwise absorb the moisture from your cigars. Allow 24 to 48 hours; the method is detailed below.
Key features
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Glass lid
Two windows to view your collection without opening the humidor.
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Cedar interior
Regulates humidity and lightly scents the cigars.
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Accessory drawer
Cutter and lighter stored beneath the cigars.
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Complete set
Hygrometer, humidifier, and lighter included.
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Triple-torch lighter
Adjustable flame, 8 mm punch, and cigar rest.
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20 to 35 cigars
Removable divider to organize all formats.
A complete desk humidor
The CARTEL spirit
The CARTEL borrows its aesthetic from traditional desk boxes: black wood with a visible grain, a brushed metal latch at the center of the front panel, and metal hinges with stays that keep the lid open while you choose your cigar. On top, the gold-dial hygrometer and the two windows create a facade that is easy to read at a glance.
The drawer makes all the difference in everyday use. No more searching for a lighter or cutter in another drawer: everything needed for your smoke is stored in one place, beneath the cigars, without cluttering the cedar compartment. The included torch lighter matches the metal fittings in a grey finish: its three torches quickly light large gauges, its built-in punch pierces the cigar cap, and its retractable cigar rest allows you to set your cigar down during a conversation.
Setup
Four steps before your first cigar
1
Prepare the cedar: wipe the interior with a cloth barely dampened with distilled water, close the lid, and let it rest for 24 to 48 hours with the humidor empty.
2
Charge the humidifier with distilled water or a humidor solution, wipe off any excess, and place it back into the humidor.
3
Check the hygrometer: wait for it to stabilize between 65 and 72% relative humidity before storing your cigars.
4
Store cigars and accessories: cigars on either side of the divider, lighter and cutter in the drawer.
CARTEL or Enigma Moon?
| Criteria |
CARTEL |
Enigma Moon (Solo) |
| Capacity |
20 to 35 cigars |
30 cigars |
| Lid |
Two glass windows |
Glass lid |
| Closure |
Brushed metal latch |
Code lock |
| Drawer |
Yes |
Yes |
| Interior |
Cedar, removable divider |
Cedar, divider |
| Lighter included |
Yes, 3-torch with punch |
No |
| Color |
Black |
Black |
Actual capacity: the range of 20 to 35 cigars depends on the format. With robustos or thick gauges, expect about twenty cigars; with coronas or thin panatelas, you will approach 35. Our
capacity calculator helps you estimate the number of cigars based on your preferred formats.
Our advice: do not skip the cedar seasoning process (24 to 48 hours). Wood that is dry upon delivery will suck the moisture right out of your cigars and make them brittle. Afterward, check the hygrometer once a week and refill the humidifier as soon as the needle drops below 65%. For the lighter, fill it with butane gas before the first use and let it rest for a few minutes after each refill.
Technical specifications
| Product |
Desk humidor with drawer |
| Model |
CARTEL |
| External dimensions |
23.5 x 18.1 x 11.7 cm |
| Cigar compartment |
21 x 15.5 cm |
| Capacity |
20 to 35 cigars depending on module |
| Weight |
Approx. 2.1 kg |
| Exterior |
Wood, black finish |
| Interior |
Cedar wood, removable divider |
| Lid |
Two glass windows, embedded hygrometer |
| Closure |
Brushed metal latch, metal hinges |
| Humidification |
Bar humidifier, needle hygrometer |
| Lighter |
3-torch, butane, adjustable flame, visible reservoir |
| Lighter dimensions |
7.7 x 3.9 x 1.5 cm, 8 mm punch |
| Color |
Black |
Note: the CARTEL closes with a latch and does not have a lock. If you would like a humidor that locks, the
Enigma Moon cigar humidor offers a drawer and a code lock. The lighter runs on butane gas: store it out of reach of children and away from heat sources.
A ready-to-gift present
For Father’s Day, a birthday, retirement, or Christmas: the CARTEL is a complete gift in itself. The hygrometer, humidifier, and lighter are already in the box; all you need to do is add a selection of cigars from your local tobacconist. For a fan who still stores cigars in their original boxes, this is a real upgrade; for a connoisseur, it is an elegant secondary humidor for the office.
To complete your gift, browse our cigar cutters, our torch lighters, and our humidifiers and hygrometers, or discover all our cigar boxes and humidors.
Frequently asked questions
How many cigars can I store in the CARTEL humidor?
The CARTEL holds 20 to 35 cigars. The exact count depends on the diameter and length of the cigars: its cedar compartment measures 21 x 15.5 cm, which allows you to align about twenty robustos or thick-gauge cigars, and more coronas or slim cigars. The removable cedar divider helps separate two formats or origins. To maintain good air circulation, we recommend not overfilling the humidor: leave a little space above the cigars, beneath the lid windows.
What exactly is in the box?
You will receive the CARTEL humidor with its cedar interior and accessory drawer, a needle hygrometer embedded in the lid, a bar humidifier, a removable cedar divider, and a triple-torch lighter with a built-in punch. Cigars are not included: the humidor is delivered empty, ready to receive your selection once it has been seasoned. The lighter is refilled with standard butane gas, which you should have on hand for the first use.
How do I prepare a new cedar humidor?
A new humidor must be seasoned before receiving cigars because the cedar is dry. Wipe all cedar surfaces (bottom, walls, lid, divider) with a clean cloth lightly dampened with distilled water, without soaking the wood. Place the charged humidifier in the humidor, close it, and wait 24 to 48 hours. When the hygrometer shows a stable reading between 65 and 72%, you can store your cigars. Never use tap water: its minerals and chlorine will clog the humidifier and may mark the wood.
What humidity level should I aim for, and how do I maintain it?
Most enthusiasts aim for 65 to 72% relative humidity, at an ambient temperature of 16 to 20 °C. If it's too dry, the cigar will dry out, crack, and burn too quickly; if it's too humid, it will smoke poorly and risk mold. In the CARTEL, the bar humidifier slowly releases its water, while the cedar buffers any fluctuations. Monitor the hygrometer once a week and refill the humidifier as soon as it drops below 65%. Avoid placing the humidor near a radiator, a sunny window, or air conditioning.
How does the included lighter work?
The CARTEL lighter is a triple-torch lighter: its three blue flames are wind-resistant and evenly heat the foot of large-gauge cigars. A dial adjusts the flame height, and a window allows you to see the gas level. It includes an 8 mm punch to cut the cigar head and a cigar rest on top. It is refilled with butane gas: purge it if necessary, fill it upside down, and then wait a few minutes before lighting it.
Does the glass lid affect preservation?
No. The two windows are set into the wooden lid, and it is the combination of the closed box, the cedar, and the humidifier that maintains the humidity. Conversely, they allow you to monitor your stash without opening the box, so you don't let humidity escape every time you take a look. One precaution: as with any glass-topped humidor, avoid direct sunlight exposure, which would heat the interior and cause humidity to fluctuate. A shaded shelf or a desk away from the window is perfect.
Is the CARTEL suitable for long-term cigar aging?
The CARTEL is designed as a desk-top humidor for a collection that you renew regularly: a few weeks to a few months, with weekly checks of the hygrometer. Its cedar interior also allows for gentle aging of cigars, provided you maintain stable humidity and occasionally rotate the cigars from the bottom to the top. For a larger collection or aging over several years, a larger humidor with a greater volume of air will be more stable.
