Blessing over a Perfume

Question

Is one supposed to recite a blessing over the scent of a perfume?

Answer

Dear …!

Blessing over a perfume depends on two factors:

  1. If the purpose of the perfume is not to create a pleasant aroma, but to a suppress a repulsive odor, one should not recite a blessing over it. Today, most deodorants are made for suppressing unpleasant smells, and most perfumes are made for creating pleasing scents.
  2. The custom is not to recite a blessing over synthetic fragrances. The experts say that expensive perfumes are based on natural smells, and cheap perfumes are based on artificial substances.

Source

Shulchan Oruch, section Orach Chaim, ch. 217

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