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Spanish Cedar has been used during this century and the last for cigar box construction. It has always been the wood of choice for curing and aging cigars. Perhaps the aroma of Cedar blends with the tobacco and helps to enhance its aroma.
This type of cedar is considered the finest. It will not absorb the flavor of the cigars, nor will remove the moisture. On the least expensive humidors, the interior may be made of any type of wood, with a thin veneer of cedar applied to the interior surface. In some cases, it is not applied to the lid of the humidor. In the more expensive humidors, an eighth inch to half inch layer of Spanish cedar is applied to the interior, which allows a thicker surface to absorb the moisture and requires less maintenance.
The use of Spanish Cedar is definitely a tradition that is steeped in the history of cigar making itself. Perhaps one of the reasons it was used initially was because of its availability at the time. It is a dominant Latin American species and literally grows in all countries from Mexico to Chile. In any event it is still preferred by cigar manufacturers. During the aging and curing process of the leaves (aging) and finished cigars (curing) Cedar is used in the storage containers and warehouse interior walls.