Learning how to light up a cigar correctly requires both the right tools and the right technique. If you have both, you’re well on your way to enjoying a perfect burn! Like anything else, it’s easier the more you practice.

Let’s start with the tools. The first and most obvious option is a lighter. The best lighters are butane, which emits an odorless flame. Traditional “Bic” and “Zippo” type lighters can taint the taste of your cigar due to the oiliness of the lighter fluid. Wooden matches are a common choice for aficionados as well; They lack extra chemicals and are simple to use. Better retailers will carry longer length wooden matches especially for cigars. (Helpful hint: after striking, let the initial sulfur cloud burn away before touching the flame to the cigar.

Lighting a cigar using cedar spills is an organic method used by die-hard cigar fans. Thin strips of natural cedar set aflame allow you to light up without the risk of contaminants. 

Here’s a quick guide to lighting your cigar perfectly:

1. Hold the cigar above the flame, touching it ever so slightly. 
2. Rotate, rotate, rotate. Be patient and allow the cigar to slowly burn, taking care to light it evenly around the entire perimeter. When you start to see that glowing red ring just inside the edges, you’re off to a great start! Now place the flame towards the center of the cigar for a few seconds while rotating the cigar.
3. Take a puff of the cigar and see how you’ve done! If it doesn’t draw air well, or the burn is becoming uneven, continue to slowly relight until it’s satisfactory.