One is faced with many questions in regard to the�beracha�to recite on a fragrance. For example, when one walks into a flower shop and smells a nice fragrance is a�beracha�recited? Is a�beracha�recited on the smell of cut grass? What�beracha�is recited when one smells an�esrog? All these questions and many others will be answered in this issue.

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Reason

Just as one is not allowed to benefit from food or drink without reciting a�beracha,[1]�one may not benefit from smelling something without reciting a�beracha�on it beforehand.[2]�The reason is because a fragrance gives the�neshama�enjoyment,[3]�however one who has no enjoyment when smelling an item does not recite a�beracha.[4]�No�beracha achrona�is recited.[5]

Nice Voice etc.

Since hearing a nice voice[6]�or washing oneself[7]�is not something which is enjoyed by the body, no�beracha�is recited.

Food and Smell

One who has a food item and an item which has a nice fragrance, recites the�beracha�on the food item first, since it goes into the body.[8]

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Unsure if an item smells

One who is unsure if a specific item has a fragrance on which he can recite a�beracha�may smell the item without a�beracha.[9]�This is common if one is in a store and he smells a certain item to see if it has a good fragrance in order to buy it. If you can�t smell noberacha�is recited.[10]

Intention

Each time one smells an item he should have in mind�??? ???? ??? ??’.[11]�One should say this after he smells the item since otherwise it would be a�hefsek�between the smelling and the�beracha.[12]

Holding it in the Right Hand

According to some�poskim�just as when one recites a�beracha�on food,[13]�the item is held in the right hand, so too when one holds an item to recite a�beracha�on the fragrance it is also held in the right hand.[14]�The�Biur Halacha[15]�feels that doing so is not required.

Different�Berachos

As we know different foods have different�berachos�recited over them. The same is true for�berachos�on a fragrance.

s�Atzei B�samim-�If an item is from a tree[16]�the�beracha�is�boruch ata��Atzei B�samim.

s�Eisvei[17]�B�samim-�If an item is from the ground the�beracha�is�boruch ata��Eisvei�B�samim.

s�Minei B�samim– If an item does not grow from the ground and is not a tree the�beracha�is�boruch ata�.Minei B�samim.[18]

s�Asher Nosson Reiach Tov B�Peiros–�is the�beracha�recited on a nice smelling fruit.[19]

There is a dispute as to which is the correct�nusach�for the�beracha�made on a fruit which one smells. Some say it is�sh�nosson[20]� others say�hanosson,[21]�while others say it is�asher nosson.[22]�The custom seems to be that the�beracha�is�hanosson,[23]�each one according to his custom.[24]�The�Ben Ish Chai[25]�says because of this dispute one should refrain from smelling any fruit in order to avoid a�machlokes haposkim. This is not the overwhelming custom.[26]

On all items which are taken to smell if one recited a�shehakol�on them he was�yotzei�b�dieved,[27]�just as one is always�yotzei b�dieved�when he recites a�shehakol�on a food item which requires a different�beracha.[28]�Others say one who made a�shehakol�on an item which was taken to smell was�yotzei�even�l�chatchilah.[29]�Some say one who recited a�besamim�on a fruit was�yotzei b�dieved.[30]

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Mistakes in the�Berachos

One who recited an�eisvei..�on a specific spice that grows from a tree whose�beracha�is therefore an�atzei.. was not�yotzei.[31]�The same is true in the opposite scenario.[32]�B�dieved�one who smelled something without making a�beracha�beforehand does not recite theberacha�over smelling it, even if he will smell the same item again.[33]

Made to Smell

A�beracha�is only recited on an item if one has the intention to smell it.

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Smelling a Fruit

Even if one enjoys the smell of a specific fruit, a�beracha�is only recited if it is taken in one�s hand in order to smell, and not if it is lying on the table.[34]�Others say it is only if one designates it to smell.[35]�One who peels a fruit and smells it does not recite theberacha�said on a fruit, but says�minei besamim.[36]

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Smelling an�Esrog

There is a dispute if one who smells an�esrog�on�Succos�needs to recites a�beracha�(since the main purpose for the�esrog�on�Succos�is for a�mitzvah�and not to smell it).[37]��Therefore, it is proper for one not to smell it at all.[38]�One who did smell it should not recite aberacha.[39]�However, this is only on�Succos�where the�esrog�is used for a�mitzvah�and not for smelling, but after�Succos�(and after using it on�Hoshana Rabbah)[40]�it may be smelled and a�beracha�should be recited.[41]�Some say on�Yom Tov�when the�esrog�is not being used for the�mitzvah�(not in�shul�etc.) smelling it is permitted, but one should refrain from doing so since others argue with this premise.[42]�On�Shabbos�(Succos) smelling an�esrog�is permitted because it is not used for a�mitzvah.[43]�Some say the same is true for smelling the�esrog�at night.[44]�One who touched an�esrog�and wiped the moisture of the�esrog�onto a garment etc, does not recite a�beracha�when smelling his garment afterwards.[45]�The custom is to recite a�beracha�on the�esrog�with cloves which is passed around on�Yom Kippur.[46]

Hot Bread – Dish

Many times one passes a bakery and is faced with the question if he should recite a�beracha�on the smell of hot bread which emanates from the bakery. Some�poskim�say to recite a�beracha,[47]�while others maintain that no�beracha�is recited even if one takes the bread in his hand to smell it.[48]�Therefore, it is best to refrain from smelling hot bread,[49]�and one who did smell it should not recite a�beracha.[50]�Similarly, no�beracha�is recited on a pleasant smelling hot dish (food),[51]�or nice smelling cakes.[52]

Coffee

One who smells the fragrance of coffee does not recite a�beracha�on it.[53]�Some say if one has intention to smell it than a�beracha�should be made,[54]�and the�beracha�is�hanosson.[55]�According to the opinion of the�Gr�a�this is only if one designates it to smell.[56]

Entering a Flower Shop

Many times one enters a flower shop and there is a strong smell emanating from the flowers, and the question is if a�beracha�is recited at that point. The�Shulchan Aruch[57]�says one who enters a store where there are fragrances and spices recites a�minei besamim.[58]One who sits in such a store a whole day recites one�beracha�which lasts for the duration of the entire day,[59]�although others argue with this.[60]�If he left and then came right back[61]�then the�beracha�he made at the beginning of the day is still valid.[62]�One who walks into a different store would recite a different�beracha.[63]�The reason why a�beracha�is recited in such a situation is because the store owner wants to attract customers so he places nice smelling flowers etc. on display.[64]�Some say one only recites a�beracha�if one enters the store and has intention to smell the flowers etc, but if he has no intention to smell them then no�beracha�is recited.[65]�Others say even without having intention to smell, a�beracha�is recited.[66]�No�beracha�is recited on dry flowers since they have no real smell.[67]

The proper way to act is to walk into the store, have intention to smell the nice flowers and recite the�beracha�of�minei besamim.[68]�If there are only flowers in the store (and not spices etc.) then an�eisvei�besamim�should be made.[69]�Some say to recite a�beracha�on flowers in a flower shop would depend if the owner has intention to attract customers with the smell or not, and it would depend on each individual store owners intent.[70]�Even according to the lenient view one who takes the flowers etc in his hands to smell would recite a�beracha.[71]

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Perfumes

A smell which has no real source does not require a�beracha. Therefore, one should avoid smelling such items.[72]�One who enters a perfume store would not recite a�beracha�on the fragrances offered for sale because the smell is not a real smell, and is also possibly made form chemicals which according to some�poskim�would not require a beracha.[73]�One who knows how a specific perfume etc is made and knows that it is a real fragrance would recite a�beracha�upon smelling it.[74]�However, in most cases one does not know how it is made and therefore it does not warrant a�beracha. Similarly, although aftershave smells nice, no�beracha�is recited over it.[75]

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Toy Smell

A smell from a new toy would not require a�beracha.[76]

Strolling Through a Garden

When one takes a walk in a garden and smells flowers, the question arises if a�beracha�is recited over the flowers etc. Some�poskim�feel that unless one takes the item in his hand to smell no�beracha�is recited on it,[77]�since in a garden the flowers are not there for nice smell but to look nice.[78]�Others feel a�beracha�should be recited.[79]�One does not recite a�beracha�on flowers placed in front of one�s home (in his garden etc.).[80]

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Smelling�Besamim�of a Woman

One is not allowed to smell�besamim�of an�ervah[81]�if it�s on her neck,[82]�hand or face because one may come to improper closeness.[83]�This applies even to the�besamim�of a single girl.[84]�There is no difference between a Jewish woman and a non-Jewish woman.[85]�Girls who have reached�halachic�maturity are considered an�ervah.[86]��The same is true for one�s wife who is in her impure state.[87]�Some say if the perfume is not on her but it is in a bottle then smelling the perfume is permitted,[88]�while others hold it is forbidden.[89]�One should try to be stringent in this area. One is permitted to smell deodorant or other lotions of a woman even when she is impure.[90]

Bathroom Aerosol Sprays

A�birchos hare�ach�is not recited on a spray that is used to remove any bad smell emanating from a bathroom.[91]�The same is true for any nice smelling deodorant or soaps.[92]�In a situation that the bathroom is clean and you are placing a pleasant smelling item in the bathroom for it to smell good then a�beracha�should be made.[93]�An air freshener in a car would require a�beracha�if it�s made with real ingredients and not chemicals.[94]

Smelling Cut Grass

According to botanists, the smell of cut grass is caused by gases emitted from each injured blade. Chopped grass releases a long list of volatile organic compounds, including methane (swamp gas), acetone (as in nail-polish remover), ethanol (grain alcohol) and acetaldehyde, a chemical similar to the toxic preservative formaldehyde. Plants produce the volatile compounds within seconds of being cut. Some also produce the chemicals when they are damaged by frost.

One does not recite a�beracha�on the smell of cut grass even if one has enjoyment from it.[95]

Smoking

Many times one passes by someone who is smoking and he enjoys the smell. The question arises if such a person recites a�beracha�on that smell? The consensus of the�poskim�is that no�beracha�is recited on the smell of a cigarette[96]�(or any good smelling smoke). One of the reasons is because the �good� smelling smoke is not meant for one to smell but is there to drain the smell out of the tobacco.[97]

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Besamim�at�Havdala

The reason for the�beracha�on the�besamim�on�Motzei Shabbos, is because we are sad that our�neshama yesiera�is leaving us, and the smell of�besamim�enlightens us.[98]�One may use any spice he has in the kitchen for�besamim.[99]�According to the opinion of others this may not be done.[100]No�beracha�is recited over inexpensive perfumes because it is made from chemicals.[101]�Whatever one uses for�besamim,�the�beracha�is�borei minei besamim.[102]

Shehechiyanu

Most�poskim�say one who smells a fruit or spice for the first time does not recite a�shehechiyanu.[103]�Although others say one does recite�shehechiyanu,[104]�this is not the overwhelming custom.

List of Items

Balsam�– the correct�beracha�to recite when smelling balsam is�shemen orev.[105]�The reason for its own�beracha�is because it is grown in�Eretz Yisroel�and is�chashuv.[106]�One who recited�atzei�was�yotzei b�dieved.[107]

Cinnamon– the�beracha�made over smelling cinnamon is�hanosson�[108]

Cloves– according to some�poskim�the�beracha�made over smelling cloves is�hanosson�[109]�Others say the�beracha�in�minei besamim.[110]

Eucalyptus-�the�beracha�recited when smelling eucalyptus is�atzei besamim.[111]

Flowers-�the�beracha�recited on smelling flowers is�eisvei besamim.[112]

Frankincense– the�beracha�recited when smelling frankincense is�atzei besamim.[113]

Honey Suckle-�the�beracha�recited on honey suckle is��minei besamim.[114]

Jasmine– the�beracha�recited when smelling jasmine is�atzei besamim.[115]

Lavender– the�beracha�recited on smelling lavender is�atzei besamim.[116]

Lemon-�some say the�beracha�recited over smelling a lemon is�minei besamim,[117]�while others say the�beracha�is�atzei..[118]

Mint-�the�beracha�recited on smelling mint is�eisvei besamim.[119]

Mushrooms-�a mushroom that has a good smell would have a�minei besamim�recited on it.[120]

Olive Oil-�the�beracha�recited on olives which are smashed and have a strong smell is�atzei besamim.[121]

Orange-�the�beracha�recited when smelling an orange is�atzei besamim.[122]

Roses– the�beracha�recited when smelling roses is�atzei besamim.[123]