Here you are, craving your favorite cigar after a long day. You reach into your humidor anticipating a nice smoke. You grab the cigar but notice something on it. Suddenly your mood goes from relaxed to complete panic. You ask yourself “Is this mold?” and then think “what is this?” Before you assume that you need to throw it away, think again. That growth could actually be Plume aka Bloom, which is good. Plume is commonly found on cigars. Plume is seen as crystallized grayish-white specks. Plume is the natural byproduct of an aged cigar. Those delicate crystals are a good sign; they indicate that you have a nicely kept aged cigar!

Is it Plume or Mold?

Plume is the white dusty powder that cigar aficionados crave! This white dust is crystallized from the oils inside the cigar. 

Plume occurs when the oils inside the cigar are sustained for a certain amount of time. After sometime the oils  inside the cigar develop and move towards the surface of the cigar. Typically, the white dust appearance is seen on the entire length of the cigar. 

Plume is the result of a well-aged and properly cared for stogie. Cigar aficionados know that even an immaculately cared for cigar might never achieve this rarity. Plume is harmless and can be gently brushed off when you are ready to smoke. If you find this gem on your cigar, consider yourself lucky! Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Cigar mold is a completely different issue. Mold can grow on almost anything. Cigars can fall prey to mold if they become too moist. This occurs when the temperature and humidity in your humidor isn’t ideal. 

Mold is a sign that your cigars are in an environment that is too humid. If you notice green or gray discoloration on the cigar, it is a sign of mold. If you notice this discoloration, try to scrape it off with your nail or a knife. If it doesn’t scrape off, it is definitely mold. 

Another tell-tale sign of mold is that it would appear three dimensionally. Mold leaves a stain even when it is removed, but plume comes off without a mark. You can differentiate between mold and plume by the color. Mold appears in a green and blue color. Mold does not brush off easily like plume does. The texture also appears fuzzy and hairy. If you are unsure if there is mold on the cigar, you can take the cigar to your local tobacconist and see what their expert opinion is.

If the mold develops while in your humidor, make sure to relocate your remaining (and unharmed) cigars to a new spot. Check every cigar to be safe. To solve the humidor problem, you must clean the humidor properly. Brush out your humidor and wipe everything with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol. Next, air it out. Let the humidor air out for at least 24 hours. Once it is aired out, re-humidify and place the cigars back inside. To stop mold from growing again, make sure you keep a close eye on your humidor and hygrometer. Check on your premium cigars often. Try to avoid tap water at all costs! Tap water contains bacteria and mold spores that can infect the cigars and cause mold to grow. Using distilled water or a propylene glycol solution is the best option. Please remember that too much humidity will cause the issue again. An easy way to remember the ideal temperature is the 70-70 rule! 70% humidity at 70 degrees is the best way to keep your humidor at the perfect level of humidity.