DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 628 KB)
Birkat Ha’re’ah - Honeysuckles, Cinnamon, Shampoo, Deodorant, Soap and Air Freshener

Somebody who smells honeysuckles recites the Beracha of "Baruch Ata Hashem…Boreh Aseh Besamim." Since they grow on a bush, the proper Beracha is "Aseh Besamim" ("fragrant trees").

If one smells cinnamon – as many people do for the Besamim at Habdala – the Beracha depends on which cinnamon is used. Although cinnamon grows on trees, and should thus require the Beracha of "Aseh Besamim," most cinnamon that people have in their homes was ground for seasoning, and not for smelling. Therefore, before smelling such cinnamon one recites "Boreh Mineh Besamim." One recites "Aseh Besamim" over cinnamon only if it was bought specifically for its fragrance.

One does not recite any Beracha at all before smelling a substance that was made for the purpose of cleaning or eliminating odor. This would include shampoo, soap, deodorant and air fresheners. All these products are made for either cleaning or deodorizing, and thus one does not recite any Beracha before smelling them.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Reciting Birkat Kohanim More Than Once a Day; If a Kohen Arrives in the Synagogue at the Time of Birkat Kohanim
Standing While Reading the Torah or When Called for an Aliyah
The Role of the Mesader
The Berachot Before and After an Aliya
Under Which Circumstances May a Sefer Torah be Transported?
Which Direction Should the Hazan Face When Carrying the Sefer Torah To and From the Ark?
The Recitation of “Ve’hu Rahum” at the Beginning of Arbit
May Birkat Kohanim be Recited After Sunset?
Reciting Birkat Kohanim at Minha on Fast Days
Until What Point in the Day Can a Person Make Up a Missed Arbit Prayer?
If One Missed a Musaf Prayer
When is the Last Time for Praying Minha?
Does One Answer to Kaddish Heard Over the Telephone or a Simulcast?
Must One Face Toward Eretz Yisrael When Reciting Kaddish?
If One Forgot Ya’ale Ve’yabo in the Amida on Rosh Hodesh
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found