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 Unique Importance of the Misva of “Peru U’rbu”
May a Grown Child Move Away From His Parents’ City?
Hacham Ovadia Yosef zt”l: In Memoriam
Folding Bedding on Shabbat
Is it permissible to wear a Bite Plate, Dentures, or Invisalign in the public domain on Shabbat
Bathing on Yom Tob
Sisit: may a Woman Wear Sisit?
Sisit: Removing the Strings from the Tallit
The Misva of Escorting Guests
Sisit: Where Should the Hole Be Placed?
Sisit: The Knots and the Coils
Sisit: The Ideal Strings for Sisit
Sisit- May One Tie Sisit to a Tallit at Night?
Sisit: Wrapping the Sisit String; Tying Knots at the Ends of the Sisit Strings
Sisit: Intent When Spinning the Strings
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found