Smelling on Yom Kippur

Question

Is it permitted to use smelling tobacco on Yom Kippur?

Answer

Shalom!

Thank you for your question!

Smelling things on Yom Kippur is completely permitted. This is because “…there is no bodily pleasure involved in smelling spices; it is rather a pleasure solely for the soul.”

In fact, one should make an effort on Yom Kippur to smell spices upon which the blessing “…borei minei besamim” can be recited in order to better complete the daily quota of 100 blessings. This is because Yom Kippur lacks at least 35 blessings from the average weekday and, therefore, we make an effort to still maintain the 100 required blessings that should be recited ach day by smelling spices (as well as other methods beyond the scope of this answer.)

Smelling things, whether they are eligible for the blessing “…bore minei besamim” or not, is a recommended way to better remain alert over Yom Kippur. Oils are also popular for smelling for this purpose on Yom Kippur. However, one should only smell oil directly from their container and le'chatchilah one shouldn't bring it too close to one's nose. It is forbidden to put oil on a tissue for smelling as doing so violates the ban on “molid rei’ach” creating smells in materials. One should also not put such oils on one’s skin on Yom Kippur due to the ban on “anointing.”

One may recite a blessing on “essential oils” which are 100% pure oil from sweet smelling herbs. The blessing will be “…borei atzei besamim” (like Eucalyptus oil) or “…borei isvei besamim” (for mint oil) depending on it's source.

A blessing is customarily not recited when smelling tobacco.


Source

OC 216 and 612 and commentaries.


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