DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 574 KB)
Applying a Fragrant Spray to Clothing on Shabbat and Yom Tob

The Rama (Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Cracow, 1525-1572), in the context of the laws of Yom Tob (Orah Haim 511:4), codifies the prohibition of "Molid Reha," which means making something fragrant. It is forbidden to apply a fragrant substance, such as a spray, to a garment, such as a shirt, or even a handkerchief, on Shabbat or Yom Tob. Although it is permissible to apply perfume or cologne to one’s body or hair, one may not apply a fragrant spray to his clothing on Shabbat or Yom Tob.

The Halachic authorities address the question of whether it is permissible to wrap the Etrog on Sukkot in the flax hair that many people use to protect their Etrogim, as this has the effect of making the material fragrant. The Mishna Berura (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan, 1839-1933) rules that as long as the Etrog had already been in the flax hair before Shabbat or Yom Tob, and thus the hair was already fragrant, one may wrap the Etrog on Shabbat or Yom Tob.

These Halachot are codified by Rav Natan Ben Sanior in his Ner Le’siyon (listen to audio recording for precise citation).

Summary: Although it is permissible to apply perfume or cologne to one’s body or hair on Shabbat and Yom Tob, one may not apply a fragrant spray to one’s clothing.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Special Month of Adar
2 Halachot on Purim: Seudat Purim, and Minha Purim
Purim-Halachot for Purim Day
Purim on Mosa’eh Shabbat – Hearing the Megila Before the Time of Rabbenu Tam
Purim- The Beracha After Reading the Megillah
Purim- The Proper Reading of the Megillah
Purim: The Layout of the Megillah
Purim: The Stick of the Megillah
Purim: Unraveling the Megillah
Purim: Is it Possible to Observe Two Days of Purim?
Purim: Night or Day: Which Megila Reading is More Important?
Purim: Do Mixed Nuts Qualify as Mishloach Manot?
Purim –Matanot La’ebyonim That Will be Given to Poor People in Jerusalem on the 15th of Adar
Performing a Berit Mila on Purim
Purim – The Reason for the Special Status of Walled Cities
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found