Cigar fuzz... WTF???

mravery · 11-03-2009, 04:10 PM

Hello all,

I've been a bit puzzled as of late..... In my desktop humidor I have about 70 sticks, many makes, sizes, wrappers etc. The rh runs about 70.....All of the cigars are minus their wrappers.

I have one Ashton Classic that seems to keep getting this white/grey 'fuzz' on it. The best that I can describe it is a very very fine 'cottony' look and is three dimensional in appearance.

Is this mold, fungus or natural aging?

Cheers
Mark

jkim05 · 11-03-2009, 04:11 PM

It's mold, generally harmless, but a sign your humidity is a bit high. You can just brush it off, but try to keep your humidity down.

WyGuy · 11-03-2009, 04:12 PM

It's mold. Generally you can just wipe it off, unless it gets in the foot of the cigar.

The Poet · 11-03-2009, 04:15 PM

If it is truly "fuzzy" then it is likely mold. But if upon close examination it appears a bit crystalline and shiny, then it is "plume" or "bloom", a relatively rare byproduct of ageing, and a good thing. Ashtons have been known to be particularly prone to this benificence.

However, your description seems more like mold - sorry.

mravery · 11-03-2009, 04:16 PM

Yeah.. I kinda figured.

Though I was surprised that it was only on the one Ashton.

I'm thinking of replacing the humidifier with some 65 rh beads (though I like the 70rh)

sikk50 · 11-03-2009, 05:47 PM

I made the switch from 70 to 65 in january, and let me tell ya, you'll never look back

JJG · 11-03-2009, 06:03 PM

you're hygrometer might read 70% but humidity isn't always evenly distributed throughout the box. Sometimes the ones on the bottom can get a little more moist. but as others have mentioned, the mold isn't harmful. just wipe it off and keep a close eye on things to make sure it doesn't get worse.

11-03-2009, 07:19 PM

Talk to Shilala and get some beads.

11-03-2009, 07:40 PM

65% here as well... 70 makes me nervious

bigheadmark · 11-03-2009, 07:51 PM

Yes, man am I glad I joined this website...I used to keep my Humi at LEAST 70% RH, and noticed quite often that some cigars were harsh, and some wouldn't stay lit....now, the highest RH my Humi gets to is 65%...it's currently at like 63% right now, and my cigars smoke great!

ucla695 · 11-03-2009, 08:00 PM

Sounds like mold to me. I haven't had any problems since I lowered my RH to 62ish%

pnoon · 11-03-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigheadmark

Yes, man am I glad I joined this website...I used to keep my Humi at LEAST 70% RH, and noticed quite often that some cigars were harsh, and some wouldn't stay lit....now, the highest RH my Humi gets to is 65%...it's currently at like 63% right now, and my cigars smoke great!

Glad to hear that, Mark.

It's wonderful when something so simple makes a vast improvement.

Personally, I use 65% beads. But I would rather see my smokes at 57%-60% than 70%-72%

11-03-2009, 08:42 PM

I keep my aging humidors @ 63-65% and a desktop for smoking @ 58-60%, I love the flavors @ this level and they burn and smoke better. Try a few @ 60% and see what you think. I could never go back to 70%, the burn/draw problems and the harshness at that level are not worth it.

11-03-2009, 04:10 PM	#1
mravery Just in from the Storm Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 16 Trading: (0)	Cigar fuzz... WTF??? Hello all, I've been a bit puzzled as of late..... In my desktop humidor I have about 70 sticks, many makes, sizes, wrappers etc. The rh runs about 70.....All of the cigars are minus their wrappers. I have one Ashton Classic that seems to keep getting this white/grey 'fuzz' on it. The best that I can describe it is a very very fine 'cottony' look and is three dimensional in appearance. Is this mold, fungus or natural aging? Cheers Mark

11-03-2009, 04:11 PM	#2
jkim05 Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeremy Location: Rockville, MD Posts: 519 Trading: (17)	Re: Cigar fuzz... WTF??? It's mold, generally harmless, but a sign your humidity is a bit high. You can just brush it off, but try to keep your humidity down.

11-03-2009, 04:12 PM	#3
WyGuy Boiler Up! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mike Location: MN Posts: 1,359 Trading: (16)	Re: Cigar fuzz... WTF??? It's mold. Generally you can just wipe it off, unless it gets in the foot of the cigar.

11-03-2009, 04:15 PM	#4
The Poet Il megglior fabbro Join Date: Jun 2009 First Name: Thomas Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 8,420 Trading: (2)	Re: Cigar fuzz... WTF??? If it is truly "fuzzy" then it is likely mold. But if upon close examination it appears a bit crystalline and shiny, then it is "plume" or "bloom", a relatively rare byproduct of ageing, and a good thing. Ashtons have been known to be particularly prone to this benificence. However, your description seems more like mold - sorry.

11-03-2009, 04:16 PM	#5
mravery Just in from the Storm Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 16 Trading: (0)	Re: Cigar fuzz... WTF??? Yeah.. I kinda figured. Though I was surprised that it was only on the one Ashton. I'm thinking of replacing the humidifier with some 65 rh beads (though I like the 70rh)

11-03-2009, 05:47 PM	#6
sikk50 Just Bored Really... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andrew Location: The Jefferson State Posts: 2,084 Trading: (13)	Re: Cigar fuzz... WTF??? I made the switch from 70 to 65 in january, and let me tell ya, you'll never look back __________________ "Not a Headache in a Hogshead"

11-03-2009, 06:03 PM	#7
JJG Have My Own Room Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Jeff Location: Houston Posts: 1,260 Trading: (4)	Re: Cigar fuzz... WTF??? you're hygrometer might read 70% but humidity isn't always evenly distributed throughout the box. Sometimes the ones on the bottom can get a little more moist. but as others have mentioned, the mold isn't harmful. just wipe it off and keep a close eye on things to make sure it doesn't get worse.

11-03-2009, 07:19 PM	#8
Uflbassin Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Cigar fuzz... WTF??? Talk to Shilala and get some beads.

11-03-2009, 07:40 PM	#9
str8edg Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Cigar fuzz... WTF??? 65% here as well... 70 makes me nervious

11-03-2009, 07:51 PM	#10
bigheadmark Uncle Jun, how was Boca? Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: MARK Location: Grand Blanc, Michigan USA Posts: 260 Trading: (1)	Re: Cigar fuzz... WTF??? Yes, man am I glad I joined this website...I used to keep my Humi at LEAST 70% RH, and noticed quite often that some cigars were harsh, and some wouldn't stay lit....now, the highest RH my Humi gets to is 65%...it's currently at like 63% right now, and my cigars smoke great!

11-03-2009, 08:00 PM	#11
ucla695 Neither here, nor there Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Pool Posts: 3,696 Trading: (5)	Re: Cigar fuzz... WTF??? Sounds like mold to me. I haven't had any problems since I lowered my RH to 62ish%

11-03-2009, 08:42 PM	#13
cf2112 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Cigar fuzz... WTF??? I keep my aging humidors @ 63-65% and a desktop for smoking @ 58-60%, I love the flavors @ this level and they burn and smoke better. Try a few @ 60% and see what you think. I could never go back to 70%, the burn/draw problems and the harshness at that level are not worth it.