Les 7 étapes incontournables pour allumer un cigare

The essential steps for lighting a cigar

A premium cigar is a precious product whose meticulous craftsmanship takes a great deal of time. In many cases, the production of this marvel stretches over many years. In addition, it is estimated that around fifty pairs of hands are involved from sowing to the final shipment to your local specialist.

For an expert, there is nothing more baffling than watching a smoker thrust the foot of his cigar directly into the flame of a 1,500-degree blue torch lighter. Indeed, the extreme heat instantly ignites the tobacco, producing hot, acrid smoke that immediately dulls the cigar’s potential flavors. To light a cigar properly, you need a little patience, a little practice, and above all, time. Any true enthusiast should be delighted to honor this lighting ritual.

We have put together a list of seven steps that will allow you to fully enjoy the aroma of your precious cigars.

The 7 essential steps

1. The cigar should never touch the flame
2. Hold the cigar at a 45° angle above the flame, far enough away to allow the flame to “caress” the cigar without touching the foot
3. Rotate the cigar so the foot lights evenly all the way around
4. Blow gently on the foot of the cigar to assess progress – the cigar will be lit when the entire foot glows with red-black areas
5. Exhale gently through the cigar to eliminate any potential impurities from the lighting source – this is commonly known as the “purge”
6. Begin naturally taking puffs, rotating the cigar from time to time to regulate the burn and avoid any possible uneven spots.
7. Sit back and take the time to enjoy your cigar

Although a torch lighter can be used to properly light a cigar in the manner described above, some aficionados will prefer the traditional route and will use only a low-temperature yellow flame (match flame). The key is to choose the method best suited to the context. Indeed, when you decide to enjoy a cigar on a terrace, if it is windy, it will be difficult to light it with a soft flame. Many options are available and can be grouped into four broad categories: flame lighters, matches, disposable butane lighters and refillable butane lighters.

While a torch lighter can be used to properly light a cigar in the manner described above, some aficionados will prefer a more traditional approach and will use only a low-temperature yellow flame (match flame). The key is to choose the method that best suits the context. Indeed, when you decide to enjoy a cigar on a terrace, if there is wind, it will be difficult to light it with a soft flame. There are many options and they can be grouped into four main categories: flame lighters, matches, disposable butane lighters and refillable butane lighters.

Traditional lighting with cedar wood shavings

Yes, you understood correctly: to do this, you use a strip or sliver of wood that you light at one end and then use to transfer its flame to our cigar. 

If you want to use this technique to light your cigar, you will find what you're looking for in the many cigar boxes that contain a thin sheet of Spanish cedar inside – a type of mahogany that burns with minimal impurities. This sheet can be cut into narrow strips with a cutter, producing a handful of shavings. In addition, some premium cigars – for example the Chateau Fuente Pyramids by Arturo Fuente – are wrapped in cedar sleeves, which can be unwound and then cut into slices.

The thinking behind using cedar shavings in the lighting process is to preserve the cigar's natural essence. Indeed, these little gems age optimally when stored in a box made of Spanish cedar. Over time, the wood's aromas permeate the cigar's aromas, which is why it would make sense to light the tobacco using the same material. However, this method is somewhat cumbersome, as it requires the use of another source of ignition.

Matches

In 1805 Jean Chancel invented the self-igniting match. Its head was made from a mixture of sulfur, potassium chlorate, sugar, and rubber. It was lit by dipping its tip into an asbestos bottle filled with sulfuric acid. Chancel’s matches were expensive and inherently dangerous, which prevented their widespread acceptance. Over the following decades, various individuals made improvements to this remarkable invention. 

Yet it was not until 1844 that the use of this tool truly became widespread. The Swede Gustaf Erik Pasch invented the safety match, which separates the reactive ingredients between the match head and a surface impregnated with red phosphorus. At first, these matches were made with one end containing potassium chlorate and the other red phosphorus, requiring the match to be broken in two and then one end rubbed against the other. In the late 1890s, the American Joshua Pusey patented the matchbook, which he later sold to the Diamond Match Company.

A match produces a large, gentle flame, with the added advantage of being found in most bars, convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and tobacco shops everywhere. The best choice would be a wooden match, as the residual chemicals from a paper match can alter the cigar’s initial flavor. In addition, you should let the match head burn completely before bringing the flame to the foot of the cigar. When lighting a cigar with a large ring gauge, two matches held tightly together can be used to create a wider flame. While many companies make long matches specifically designed for cigar smokers, Davidoff offers sturdy 7 cm matches made from non-aromatic wood, allowing for a clean, odorless burn.

Disposable Butane Lighters

Contrary to popular belief, the famous Bic was not the first disposable butane lighter to be put on the market. That honor goes to S.T. Dupont of Paris, which introduced the inexpensive Cricket lighter in 1972. It was only a year later that Bic began marketing its disposable butane lighter, which could provide three thousand flames before the tank ran dry. A Bic lighter produces a beautiful, gentle flame and works very well for lighting cigars with a ring gauge of 50 or less. The main drawback of using a Bic lighter is that the flame is not adjustable and its size diminishes as the fuel is depleted.

Refillable Butane Lighters

The advantage of this type of gadget is that it allows for lighting in any situation, even on a terrace in strong wind. The options within this category are practically endless, ranging from inexpensive units to precious lighters that could be classified as jewelry. A standard Zippo lighter is not recommended, as it uses gas instead of butane.

The Xikar Forte delivers a wind-resistant yellow flame that can be used at altitudes of up to 12,000 feet without going out. In addition to a large flame-adjustment wheel at its base, the Forte has a built-in seven-millimeter cigar punch. This lighter was named cigar accessory of the year 2016 by the Cigar Journal. The brand Colibri offers a full range of possibilities at varying price points. The lighter Colibri Apex Argent Métallique is a well-designed dual soft-flame lighter. Once lit, it produces two flames, one at a 45-degree angle and the other at a 90-degree angle. The two merge to create a thick flame that is large enough to easily light large-ring-gauge cigars.

The prestige brands Davidoff and S.T. Dupont produce high-end refillable butane lighters. Davidoff Prestige lighters vary in their price ranges. They are offered in a number of opulent finishes – silver, gold, palladium and Chinese lacquer. Made by S.T. Dupont and using the Dupont Yellow Can butane,, the Davidoff Prestige lighters are cut from a solid block of brass and feature a dual-burner system, producing a soft dual flame ideal for lighting a cigar. 

S.T. Dupont produces the widest range of options under its brand. Prices run from the Slim range to the Prestige range – in 18-karat solid gold. The brand’s most popular model is most certainly Ligne 2 (and more, depending on the finish).