Are these cigars ruined forever?

[Nat]

Question to all -- would appreciate your thoughts:

Several years ago on a trip to France, I purchased a box of 10 Partagas Serie P No 2 from a local store which came along with a humidor bag. After several hours I checked the cigars and noticed that the humidor bag had ripped, and the box and outer shell of the cigars were wet with whatever substance comprised of the inside of the humidor bag. I wiped the cigars and box and let them dry and have rested them for the past few years. I'm curious if you all think these cigars are toxic or whether after all these years the substance had evaporated?

Probably not worth the health risk, but curious what you all think?

[Duder]

Can’t say for sure but I imagine they are fine to smoke. As far as I know the stuff they use in those bags is non toxic. Hard to believe they would make them from something harmful when they are used for consumables. Also they would probably have some kind of warning label if they did. 

[Gemini_Man]

I'm pretty sure they use a gel based saline (saltwater) solution in those bags which would be fine to smoke.

[Nat]

Thank you Lucas and Gemini for your response. Much appreciated.

[MagicalBikeRide]

I understand those pouches are mostly purified water and dissolved salts. Probably ok to smoke, but they may leave an odour or taste. Can’t see how they’d be dangerous.

Can you see any visible signs of salt or white splotches / patches? 

[Chibearsv]

I’m not inclined to offer a guess regarding health or safety since I’m neither a product expert or a medical professional. 

[Ford2112]

I have probably smoked much worse but I would take anything I say with a grain of salt.

[painfreefishing]

43 minutes ago, Ford2112 said:

I have probably smoked much worse but I would take anything I say with a grain of salt.

I see what you did there. 

[El Presidente]

Post a pic if you can. 

Does it pass the pub test? 

Look at them. Sniff them. Does anything put you off? 

If not,

Big boy pants on and light up. 

....Defibrillator close by.

[ha_banos]

Yeah post a picture of the cigars and the bag. Where was the bag made? By whom? Is it FDA approved? It could just polymers for humidity not salt. It should be food safe. But depending on if you trust the manufacturer/supplier!

 

 

[Nat]

9 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Post a pic if you can. 

Does it pass the pub test? 

Look at them. Sniff them. Does anything put you off? 

If not,

Big boy pants on and light up. 

....Defibrillator close by.

I am away this week, but will add a pic next week when I'm back home. The cigars look like regular cigars -- no signs of any issues or irregularities, but will post next week.

[potpest]

There's about 7000 chemicals in smoke, what difference is another one going to make?

[Dmex]

I will happily be a test dummy for you just in case lol. Cheers!!

[Ford2112]

I will smoke one and if I die you can toss them!

[Zonum]

1 minute ago, Ford2112 said:

I will smoke one and if I die you can toss them!

Same lol send some our way 😂

[Ford2112]

What a bunch of Rapscallions!!

[westg]

On 8/20/2025 at 2:49 PM, El Presidente said:

Post a pic if you can. 

Does it pass the pub test? 

Look at them. Sniff them. Does anything put you off? 

If not,

Big boy pants on and light up. 

....Defibrillator close by.

That's the spirit. Everyone above sounds right. Smoke one today. 😀

[Greenhorn2]

I would smoke them. I've probably smoked worse things in my life and lived to talk about it.

[Namisgr11]

My concern would be whether the humidifying packets have preservative in them. Many long term preservatives are toxic, not only to bacteria and mold, but animals as well. Supposedly, Boveda packs are made without preservatives, and so should be okay.

[Montezüma]

On 8/20/2025 at 9:33 PM, Nat said:

I am away this week, but will add a pic next week when I'm back home. The cigars look like regular cigars -- no signs of any issues or irregularities, but will post next week.

Don't forget to do a write-up review upon lighting, so we can document and catalogue your findings. For science.

[Nat]

So just to be clear, this wasn't a humidication pack like a Boveda. It was a bag that held the entire box of ten cigars that had built in humidification.

[Namisgr11]

The issue is the same: does the humidifying substance include potentially toxic preservative, or is it preservative free? If you don't know the answer to this, then there is a bit of risk in smoking cigars that have been exposed to the substance.

[Nat]

8 hours ago, Namisgr11 said:

The issue is the same: does the humidifying substance include potentially toxic preservative, or is it preservative free? If you don't know the answer to this, then there is a bit of risk in smoking cigars that have been exposed to the substance.

I honestly have no way of knowing since I threw out the bag at the time.

[ha_banos]

21 hours ago, Nat said:

I honestly have no way of knowing since I threw out the bag at the time.

So... Do you feel lucky punk?

[tbelle7]