The actual smoking of a cigar is only part of the reason why people consider themselves a serious cigar aficionado. Cigars have a ritual all their own and one of the best moments for any cigar fan is when they lift up that cigar to capture that deep, distinctive smell. Each cigar has its own feel, it’s own aroma and there’s nothing worse than discovering that one of your cigars has that off-putting aroma that’s vaguely reminiscent of ammonia.
While it might be an unpleasant experience, there are some ways you can remove the smell. But first, you need to know why that cigar’s sporting such an unpleasant odor.
Believe it or not, ammonia is a natural byproduct of the fermentation process with tobacco. And if the producer of your cigar isn’t careful, it’s an aroma that can be picked up during the manufacturing process. When tobacco’s picked, it’s stacked into large bundles and transported to a large curing barn. Tall stacks of tobacco are then aged and if done correctly, the tobacco’s infused with a distinctive, pleasant aroma that cigar lovers look for.
But the stacks of tobacco do give off heat during the curing process and that heat burns off a number of chemicals found naturally in the tobacco. Some of those chemicals are responsible for a smell that’s reminiscent of ammonia. In most cases, this isn’t a problem because the proper curing of the tobacco will allow those imperfections to evaporate. But if a manufacturer cuts the fermentation process short or doesn’t age the tobacco long enough, the smell doesn’t have time to disappear. And while these cigars aren’t dangerous to smoke, they’re also not very pleasant to consume.
So what can you do if you find your cigar has that ammonia smell? While you can remove the odor, it does take a bit of time and work on your part. The easiest method is by “dry boxing” the cigars. That means that you put the cigars in a wooden (preferably cedar) lined humidor with no active or passive humidification. By allowing the cigars to age naturally, the faint ammonia smell will eventually dissipate. While this method will work, it’s important to note that it’s not a quick process and it can easily take months or even years to remove the smell. But when it’s over, you’ll have a properly aged cigar that can be enjoyed just the way the manufacturer intended.