A cigar may as well stay sat in your humidor if you don’t have something to light it up. However, there’s a lot more to lighting a cigar than simply finding your nearest flame source. Despite what you may have seen in the movies, you don’t just stick your stogie in a candlestick flame while it’s in your mouth and begin puffing at the rate of knots.

It requires patience, like you would have when toasting a marshmallow over a campfire. Rush it, and you’ll have to endure the distaste of an uneven or bad burn. The chances of ruining the intended flavor strategically layered throughout the cigar increase if you don’t use the right instrument to light it. 

From cedar spills and matches to the different types of lighters, we’ll look at the tools available to light your cigar so you can decide which cigar accessory is right for you.

What to use to light a cigar?

Lighters and wooden matches are the two most common ways to light a cigar. However, not all lighters are good options when it comes to putting fire to foot. Similarly, striking up a match also comes with its own challenges. The method you choose can have a big say on the resulting smoke. As a beginner, you don’t want your first-time experience to leave a bad taste in your mouth, or even destroy your cigar.

So — you’ve picked your cigar and are understandably excited to light up and see what all the fuss is about. The options will feel endless when choosing the right flame source, but we’re confident we can help light your way to success.

Lighters

The most obvious choice for lighting a cigar is using a lighter. But with so many lighters, from zippo lighters to torch lighters and even flameless ones, you’re not exactly light on options.

Torch lighters

Torch lighters offer an ultra-hot, strong, and concentrated jet flame that enables you to light a cigar quickly and thoroughly. They are considered the best tool for lighting cigars, especially if you’re outdoors (for example, fishing) and the wind can potentially interrupt your lighting ritual. You still need to be careful, though, as lighting your cigar isn’t about speed — keep patience and distance in mind, or you’ll end up with a charred stick.

Even though butane torch lighters are more expensive than soft flame alternatives, they are very accurate. This is because you adjust the height of the flame to focus on specific parts of the foot that need retouching. Correctly maintaining your torch lighter will also mean it lasts a long time. This includes cleaning the jets and refilling the tank with clean, refined butane fuel.

Soft flame lighters

Portable and inexpensive in comparison, soft flame lighters like BIC and Zippo lighters also have a less intense flame than a torch lighter. This means getting the cigar’s foot toasty takes a little longer. Still, many cigar manufacturers swear by this method as the cooler and slower light preserves the natural flavor of the premium tobaccos.

Unfortunately, there are downsides to these types of lighters. The first is the type of fuel they use. Zippo lighters may look cool, but they don’t use one specific fuel type. Some use low-grade, odorous fuel that will taint the cigar’s flavor and make the smoking experience less enjoyable.

While disposable BIC lighters use butane fuel, it is cheap and unrefined, and as such interferes with the taste of your cigar. The flame of a BIC lighter is also non-adjustable and diminishes in size as the fuel level evaporates.

Even though a Zippo lighter is refillable for cost-effective and long-lasting use, a disposable BIC one isn’t. There’s also outside elements to consider, as the slightest breeze can blow the flame out.

There’s no denying these types of cigar lighters require more patience. Be careful not to burn yourself (especially when using a BIC), given the position of the ignition wheel in proximity to the flame.

Matches

Wooden matches are not practical if you’re smoking outside, but you’re bound to have some lying around the house. Small and easy to store and take on the go, matches also come with taste concerns. This is because they tend to be sulfur-based, which will then enter your cigar’s profile. The best way to avoid this is to let the match burn down to the wood before bringing the flame to foot.

Try use longer matches (ideally ones without a sulfur tip) to alleviate the fear of burning your fingers. Using two matches at a time will make lighting easier by giving you a wider flame.

Candles

Don’t follow Winston Churchill’s lead by lighting your cigar with a candle. Most candles are made from paraffin, which will again tamper with your stogie’s taste and give it a waxy aftertaste.

Cedar spills

Burning long strips of raw cedar and using them as a clean fuel source to light your cigar prevents extra flavors or scents from affecting the blend. While this is an “old-school” way to get lift-off, it can enhance the flavor of your smoke. Keep an ashtray close to hand, as cedar spills catch fire quickly and can wreak havoc if you’re not careful.

Available at most cigar lounges and shops, you can buy a stash of cedar spills and store them in your humidor for later use.

What fuel is best for lighting a cigar?

Filtered, refined, and odorless butane is the only liquid flame you should use to light your cigar. However, not all butane fuels are created equal. Inferior unrefined butane won’t just compromise your smoke, but can also cause your lighter to wear out much quicker than it should.

Good butane burns clean and won’t clog the jets in your torch lighter. Look for butane that’s at least triple-refined (ideally refined at least five times) so the maximum number of impurities have been removed from the finished product.

What is the best way to light a cigar?

What you use to light your cigar might not seem a big deal, but it matters. Be wary of cheap lighters, even BICs that use butane.

A proper jet flame or torch flame cigar lighter is the way forward due to their build quality and exhibiting a more powerful flame for an easier and even burn.

Look for cigar lighters with built-in cigar cutters and a see-through window for monitoring your fuel level to make your lighting and smoking experience even more pleasurable.