Oils from Fingers Reacting with Cigar Wrapper?

[rdomfoto]

So here's an odd question (and I don't have a picture to show this yet)...

Twice in the past couple of weeks, after I started smoking a cigar, I noticed a silvery area that was shiny where I was holding the cigar while I lit it. At first, I thought "oh shit, mold". But, everything I've read and all the images I've looked at online tells me it isn't mold. It's shiny, silvery-white, NOT fuzzy, can't be brushed off, etc.

I can scrape it off and it doesn't appear until after I start smoking it. The first time it happened, I thought there was something on my hand because it looked exactly like a fingerprint. It doesn't cover the whole cigar, just a couple of places, usually where I held it during the lighting of it. The cigar doesn't taste bad, the burn isn't affected, and the draw is fine. AND, I inspect my cigars before I smoke them and I definitely would have noticed it if it was mold that was on my cigar.

It really seems to be from some kind of reaction and the only thing I can think of is that the wrapper is reacting with the oils on my hand.

A couple of notes:

• Yes, I bathe regularly :rofl:
• It only is happening on cigars with Maduro wrappers
• It is NOT visible when the cigar is taken out of the humidor - only after it's lit
• Taste and burn aren't affected (at least that I can tell)
• I've checked every cigar in my humidor and none of them have it
• The cigars were not cedar-wrapped so it wouldn't be sap
• The cigars were kept in the cellophane
• Both were Fuentes but different lines (one was a Don Carlos and the other a Casa Fuente)

I know you can't tell for sure unless I post a photo and I'll grab one next time it happens. I am just wondering if anyone else has heard of this. A Google search hasn't produced anything other than a couple of vague references to the pectin used in gluing the wrapper leaves.

I am more curious than concerned since: 1) I am almost positive it is not mold and 2) it's not adversely affecting the smoking experience.

Thoughts? :dunno:

 

[apnutter]

I have had this too. I always thought it was the paste or whatever the use to keep the wrapper sticking to itself. Usually occurs when area it's in warms up. I don't know much about the rolling process but this was my thoughts.

 

[dharbolt]

I have had this too. I always thought it was the paste or whatever the use to keep the wrapper sticking to itself. Usually occurs when area it's in warms up. I don't know much about the rolling process but this was my thoughts.

I second this

 

[BradMc]

O man U guys got it bad, Bundle up all ur cigars and send to me....
Certain times of the year I'll get a lil rash between my index and middle fingers , that turns into a dry patch, maybe 3 or 4 days , then gone ....

 

[rdomfoto]

I have had this too. I always thought it was the paste or whatever the use to keep the wrapper sticking to itself. Usually occurs when area it's in warms up. I don't know much about the rolling process but this was my thoughts.

Good point. It's never happened before to me but that doesn't mean much since I've only really been smoking since last September and collecting since October/November. So I've never had a cigar outside when it's warm - at least not cigars that were stored under the conditions in my humi (62-63%, 65°)

 

[CWS]

O man U guys got it bad, Bundle up all ur cigars and send to me....
Certain times of the year I'll get a lil rash between my index and middle fingers , that turns into a dry patch, maybe 3 or 4 days , then gone ....

:applause:

 

[Smoqman]

Dry(er) oils in the wrapper can appear as liquid (on the wrapper) when warmed.

 

[rdomfoto]

Dry(er) oils in the wrapper can appear as liquid (on the wrapper) when warmed.

Okay - that makes sense, too. Warmed up by lighting and the ambient temperature, Rh raised when outside, and if it is warmed further by handling it, seeing the fingerprint makes sense.

Or I can blame the NSA and FDA, saying they're tracking my cigar use

 

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