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...
Soaking One’s Feet in Hot Water on Shabbat to Induce Sweating
The Prohibition Against Using Water Heated by a Non-Jew on Shabbat
Moving Large, Heavy Furniture on Shabbat
Driving a Woman in Labor to and from the Hospital on Shabbat
May One Take a Time Released Capsule on Shabbat for Mosei Shabbat?
May One Feed his Animals on Shabbat?
May One Recite Kiddush if He Cannot Drink the Wine?
Taking a Flight That Takes Off Before Shabbat and Lands After Shabbat
The Benefits of Singing Songs on Shabbat
Is It Permitted to Discard the Waste While Eating
Are Colorful Bowl Cleansers Permissible on Shabbat?
Walking on Snow on Shabbat
Setting Timers ("Shabbat Clocks") Before Shabbat
Using a Doorknocker, Clapping, Banging and Whistling on Shabbat
Mixing Red Wine with White Wine on Shabbat - “Sobe’a,” or “Dyeing”
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found