Most of those new to the art of smoking cigars find that they need a bit of instruction when it comes to using a cigar lighter to get their smoke going. While lighting that cigar is certainly necessary, it requires more than just a flame. You’ll need patience, as well as the right tools and some vital information. Knowhow is one of the most important factors in this equation, though torch lighters are also important considerations. If you are using a torch lighter and a quality cigar cutter, your process will be much simpler than otherwise.

Now, before you light up, you have to remove 1/8th of the cigar’s cap. You’ll see where the cap meets the cigar, as the shoulders of the cigar are rounded. Place your cutter here and depress the blade. Once removed, it’s time to move on to more important matters. Now that the cutting has been done, it’s time to warm up that cigar with your lighter. Warming the tobacco is an essential step and you should never bypass this, as it can ruin your smoking experience.

This process is called toasting and it helps ensure that the cigar will light evenly. Essentially, you are warming the tobacco with the flame of the lighter. It’s important that you use a torch lighter for this, as they are fueled with butane. This fuel is odorless, colorless and tasteless, ensuring that there is no chemical transfer to your cigar, as there can be if you use a different type of fuel.

Keep turning the cigar throughout the lighting process. When the entire cigar has caught, inspect the end for any area that did not light properly. You may need to reapply the flame at this point. You can also breathe on the area to help it catch and stay lit.

Once the foot of the cigar is lit, take it out of your mouth. You’ll need to visually inspect the cigar to make sure that the entire surface was lit. If you see areas that did not light, or are only smoldering, you’ll need to relight the cigar once more. Just repeat the process above and you will have your cigar burning bright in no time. In just moments, you will be able to relax with that delightful flavor and aroma.

Dave Sabot is the owner of specialty butane lighters store. With expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including zippo pipe lighters, Dave also authors a highly rated blog featuring cigar tips.