From the Rav’s Desk: Blessing on essential oils

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Question: [Wednesday, 25th Nissan, 5781]

I often smell essential oils, such as Levona, and would like to know if a blessing of Minei Besamim should be said prior to smelling them?

Answer:

Yes. Natural 100% essential oils that have a good scent are to be blessed upon prior to being smelled, as is the law regarding all spices. The exact blessing is dependent on the type of herbs the essential oil is derived from. For example, peppermint oil is Isvei Besamim, just as is the law regarding the peppermint leaf, while Levona oil would be Atzei Besamim, being that it is made from the sap of the tree. If you do not know the source of the oil but know that it is 100% herb, then simply say the blessing of Minei Besamim. If it is not 100% herb derivative and contains chemicals and artificially made smells and scents, then a blessing is not to be recited.

 

Sources: See Admur Seder Birchas Hanehnin 11:6; Piskeiy Teshuvos 216:8-11

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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