Madelaine Propylene Glycol Cigar Humidor Solution

If you have a humidor in which to keep your cigars in, you will need to maintain an internal relative humidity of 68 – 72% RH, and this is achieved by pouring a proper solution into the humidifier in your cigar humidor.

While you could drip in distilled water as a simple solution, the ideal way is to use a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and propylene glycol solution prepared specially for humidors. This mixture is sometimes known as an activation solution.

Propylene glycol is crucial as a chemical component in your humidifier and humidor in a number of ways:

maintaining the relative humidity within the humidor at the optimum of 70 ±2% RH
absorption of excess moisture
inhibiting the formation of fungus and mould
preventing the growth of bacteria

The Madelaine Propylene Glycol Solution

There are two variations commercially available – undiluted propylene glycol; and pre-mixed 50/50 mixture of distilled water and propylene glycol solution.

For ease and convenience, a pre-mixed solution contained in an easy-grip bottle with a flip-out spout is preferred, such as the Madelaine brand shown at right. After making my own humidor, I bought a bottle online. The Madelaine activation solution is a food-grade product recognised for its quality, and proven to get the job done as I have discovered after using it for almost six months (see last photo below).

The bottle arrived in a styrofoam-filled box, as I will reveal in the really unnecessary unboxing process below:

The Unboxing

cigar humidor solution — 1. Here comes the box, nine inches long, marked *fragile liquid* and *handle with care*.

Cigar Humidor Solution – After 5 Months

humidor relative humidity — After 5 months of use with one refill within that period, the relative humidity within my humidor
remained at 72% RH.

Humidors on eBay

Conclusion

As used and tested, the Madelaine pre-mixed solution was found to have performed well, with humidity maintained between 70 to 72% RH.

If you own a humidor or other cigar storage enclosure, the Madelaine 50/50 mixture of distilled water and propylene glycol solution comes highly recommended. It is naturally anti-fungal and inhibits the formation of mould and mildew, effectively preventing microbial damage to your cigars.

The bottle also comes with a flip-out spout which makes refilling your humidifier easy. Click the links below for purchase options for Madelaine as well as those of other reputable brands.