When you first buy a humidor it must initially be seasoned. It takes time, patience and a little know-how to get a new humidor ready to hold your precious cigars. You're trying to recreate the tropical environments where most cigars are made, and you can't rush the process. Putting cigars into a dry humidor can ruin your good smokes. Most humidors have an interior made of untreated Spanish cedar, the preferred wood for humidifying and aging premium cigars. The wood needs to be humidified, or seasoned, before the box is ready to hold your cigars. (some humidors, such as those made by Michel Perrenoud, have varnished of finished wood interiors that don't need to be seasoned.) Chances are you need to season your humidor.
Start off by taking a new sponge-make sure it is unscented and free of soap- and wet it with a liberal dose of distilled water. Wipe down all the exposed wood, including any trays and dividers, and the interior lid. Avoid using paper towels or a fraying cloth. these will literally leave a paper trail on the wood. After you've wiped sown the wood , squirt the sponge with more distilled water, then place it inside the humidor on a plastic bag-to avoid direct contact with the wood-and close the lid.
Next, prepare your humidification device according to the manufacturer's instructions or (see humidifier in humidor section of this site) Unless the manufacturers specifically states that you can use tap water, use only distilled water. Tap water contains minerals that will destroy most humidification systems by leaving deposits that will clog the humidor element. Once the humidification element is filled, be sure to wipe it sown to remove all the excess water. Rest it on a hand towel for approximately 30 minutes. Close the humidor with its humidifying element and the damp sponge, and leave it overnight. The next day, refresh the humidification device (it may not need it ) and check the sponge. If it is fairly dry, add more distilled water. If it is very damp, leave it alone. Let the humidor sit another night, and then remove the sponge and plastic bag. The walls of the humidor have now absorbed all the water it needed, and you can safely store your cigars.
Humidity in your humidor should be anywhere from 65%-75%. 70% being perfect.