There are two main categories of cigars: parallel sides and irregular shaped. Those that fall under the first category have a traditional cigar shape, which resembles an elongated bullet, with straight sides and rounded ends. Those that fall into the second category have shapes that resemble pyramids or even a mass of three cigars, twisted together.
Before lighting a cigar, the cap its smoking end must be removed. The most common way of doing this is to use a cigar cutter, which is like a small guillotine. It removes the entire cap, allowing air to move through the cigar and providing the smoker with as much flavor as possible. When lighting a cigar, especially larger ones, the best technique is to turn the cigar while lighting it, so the entire end is exposed to the flame, allowing the cigar to burn evenly.
At low temperatures or in places with little humidity, cigars will dry out, while at high temperatures, pests--such as the tobacco beetle--could ruin a cigar. It is best to keep cigars that will be stored for long periods of time in a humidor, which will mimic the conditions where tobacco stays fresh, which is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit at 70 percent humidity.
Cigar smoke, like cigarette smoke, contains toxins that may cause cancer. In fact, they contain more tar than cigarettes and have a higher level of toxins, because of a lack of a porous wrapper. When cigar tobacco is fermented, a high level of nitrosamines are produces as well, which can also cause cancer.