white spots and a sweet smell

[rolokatz]

for the first time in a long while, my humidor is almost full (about 50 mixed sticks). i'm using RH beads and i'm half way between the 'full' line and the 'low' mark on the container. When i open it up last night, it didn't have that smooth, blended tobacco smell. It was a distinctly sweet smell, and i noticed some white spots along the edges of the lid and hinge in one corner. I checked all of the sticks for mold or mildew and didn't find any problem sticks.

is this mildew or mold? should I clean out the humidor (and if so, how)?

i've got the sticks and the RH beads in a tupperdore at the moment, so the supply i safe, and I'm allowing the humidor to sit with the lid open..

HELP!!!! (and thanks in advance...)

R

[Jonesee]

It isn't likely mildew. Mildew is usually dark. Most likely mold. With a magnifying glass you should be able to see it and know for sure.

Mold shouldn't be a problem though unless there is to much humidity. Since you are using the beads that would be very unusual. I would check each of your sticks very carefully to see if somehow you imported it from your B&M or your last shipment.

As for your box: Leave it open, dry it out completely. I would take cotton balls and wipe the it down thoroughly with alcohol. Maybe even twice. After you are confident it is completely dry, and I am talking about the wood dried clear through, you can recure it.

I had this problem many years ago in a small desk top humidor. I cleaned it as described and the mold has never returned. It did leave a dark spot though where the mold was. Years later it has never returned. It was over humidified when it happened and none of my sticks were affected.

Best of luck.

[Cigary]

Ditto,,,Jonesee knows things and has cigar wisdom. I used to have wisdom until I smoked a mildewy cigar and it all went out the window. Now I rely on others smarter than I.

Originally Posted by Jonesee

It isn't likely mildew. Mildew is usually dark. Most likely mold. With a magnifying glass you should be able to see it and know for sure.

Mold shouldn't be a problem though unless there is to much humidity. Since you are using the beads that would be very unusual. I would check each of your sticks very carefully to see if somehow you imported it from your B&M or your last shipment.

As for your box: Leave it open, dry it out completely. I would take cotton balls and wipe the it down thoroughly with alcohol. Maybe even twice. After you are confident it is completely dry, and I am talking about the wood dried clear through, you can recure it.

I had this problem many years ago in a small desk top humidor. I cleaned it as described and the mold has never returned. It did leave a dark spot though where the mold was. Years later it has never returned. It was over humidified when it happened and none of my sticks were affected.

Best of luck.

[ChokeOnSmoke]

What do you use to hold your beads?
I had a portion of my beads in a small plastic cup and they turned "sweet" on me. I talked to David at Heartfelt about it and he said:

"Generally the only way the odor you describe gets in the beads is if the beads are allowed to sit in water. Just to let you know it is rare but has happened in the past."

This is very likely in my case as I would squirt water into this plastic cup and then set it in the bottom of my small humidor. I'm sure that the beads sat in some water each time I "reloaded" them.

I tried to get rid of the smell by dying them out and letting them sit for a while but so far no luck, they still stink!