Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim · Siman 216

Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim 216 — English translation

Translation: Sefaria Community Translation. Section numbers match the Hebrew text above.

1. 1Laws of the Blessing over Fragrance – containing 14 sections: It is forbidden to benefit from a pleasant fragrance before reciting a blessing; however, after smelling it, one does not need to recite a blessing retroactively.
2. 2If the source of the fragrance is wood or a species of tree, one recites the blessing “Who creates fragrant trees” (borei atzei besamim). If it is a herb, one recites “Who creates fragrant herbs” (borei isvei besamim). If it is neither a tree nor a herb — such as musk — one recites “Who creates various kinds of fragrances” (borei minei besamim). And if it is a fruit that is suitable for eating, one recites “Who gives a pleasant fragrance to fruits” (hanoten re’ach tov bapeirot).However, this only applies when one picked it up with the intent to smell it, or to both eat and smell it. But if one picked it up only to eat it and did not intend to smell it — even though it gives off a pleasant fragrance — one does not recite a blessing. For all of them, if one recited “Who creates various kinds of fragrances” (borei minei besamim), one fulfills their obligation. Therefore, for anything whose category is uncertain, one recites borei minei besamim. Over nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and all fragrant spices that are meant to be eaten, one recites “Who gives a pleasant fragrance to fruits” (hanoten re’ach tov bapeirot).
3. 3Over roses, and over cinnamon (which is the bark of the India tree), and over rose water, as well as frankincense and storax (and similar substances), one recites the blessing: “Who creates fragrant trees” (borei atzei besamim).
4. 4Over persimmon oil (shemen afarsimon), one recites the blessing: “Who creates pleasant oil” (borei shemen arev).
5. 5Olive oil that has been crushed or ground until its fragrance is released — over it one recites the blessing: “Who creates fragrant trees” (borei atzei besamim).
6. 6Oil that has been infused with fragrance, like the anointing oil (shemen hamishchah): If it was made with fragrant woods, one recites “Who creates fragrant trees” (borei atzei besamim). If it was made with fragrant herbs, one recites “Who creates fragrant herbs” (borei isvei besamim). If it was made with both woods and herbs, one recites “Who creates various kinds of fragrances” (borei minei besamim). If it was filtered and the fragrance was extracted from it (so that the spices themselves are no longer present): Some say one should recite “Who creates pleasant oil” (borei shemen arev). Others say no blessing is recited at all, since it is considered a fragrance without a substance (re’ach she’ein lo ‘ikar). And since this is a matter of doubt, it is proper to be cautious and avoid smelling it.
7. 7Over simlak and ḥilfei deimā, one recites the blessing: “Who creates fragrant trees” (borei atzei besamim). Regarding simlak: Some explain that it is rosemary (rosmarin), Others say it is jasmine (yasmin), And some interpret it as a herb with three rows of leaves, one above the other, and three leaves on each row. Ḥilfei deimā is identified as spikenard (shibolet nerd), which is called ishpek.
8. 8Sigli — which are violets (violes) — require the blessing: “Who creates fragrant herbs” (borei isvei besamim).
9. 9Nargis — which is the narcissus, and some say it is the lily (lirio) — If it grows in a garden, one recites: “Who creates fragrant trees” (borei atzei besamim). If it grows in the field, one recites: “Who creates fragrant herbs” (borei isvei besamim).
10. 10If one has before him fragrant trees, fragrant herbs, and various types of fragrances, he should recite the appropriate blessing for each one individually.Rema: However, if he recited “Who creates various kinds of fragrances” (borei minei besamim) over all of them, he has fulfilled his obligation (see Tur at the beginning of this section). And regarding whether one must give precedence to fragrant trees over fragrant herbs, see earlier in Siman 211.
11. 11If myrtle (hadas) and oil are brought before him to smell: If their blessings are the same, he should first recite the blessing over the myrtle and it will cover the oil as well. If their blessings are different, he should recite the blessing over the myrtle first.
12. 12One should recite a blessing over mugmar (which refers to the incense placed on coals to be smelled) as soon as the steam of its smoke rises, before the fragrance reaches him. However, he should not recite the blessing before the steam rises from the incense.
13. 13Regarding mugmar (incense): If it is made from wood, one recites “Who creates fragrant trees” (borei atzei besamim). If it is made from herbs, one recites “Who creates fragrant herbs” (borei isvei besamim). If it is made from other types of fragrances, one recites “Who creates various kinds of fragrances” (borei minei besamim).
14. 14One who smells the etrog used for the mitzvah of Sukkot should recite a blessing over it. However, some say that no blessing should be recited over it, so it is proper not to smell it. Rema: Some say that one who smells hot bread should recite the blessing “Who gives a pleasant fragrance to bread” (she’asan re’ach tov bapat) (as cited in the Abudarham and Beit Yosef, Siman 236 in the name of **Rav Hai Gaon). Others say that no blessing should be recited over it (Beit Yosef). Therefore, one should avoid smelling it.

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