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In the synagogue on Yom Kippur, it is not uncommon for people to pass around sweet or strong-smelling spices. You may think that the reason is to get a jolt of energy or pleasure and to stave off hunger. However, the custom actually stems from the obligation to recite 100 blessings each day.1
This practice is supported by the verse “What does G‑d ask of you but to fear Him?”4 The Hebrew word for “what” (מה, mah) can also be read as me’ah, meaning “100,” hinting that G‑d asks us to say 100 blessings each day.5
Reciting these blessings fosters love, reverence and remembrance for G‑d, and every Jew6 is obligated to do so each day.7 In this context, a “day” is defined as beginning at nightfall and continuing until the next night.8
Filling the Quota on Shabbat, Holidays, and Yom Kippur
On a regular day, 100 blessings are typically fulfilled through daily routines (see footnote for a general breakdown of the daily 100 blessings9). However, on Shabbat and holidays, when some blessings are omitted (such as in the shorter Amidah, which has 7 instead of 19 blessings), we fall about 13 blessings short. These can be made up by reciting blessings over fruits and fragrant spices. If these are not available, listen carefully to the blessings during the Torah reading and maftir and respond “amen.”10
On Yom Kippur, when eating and drinking are prohibited, you can smell fragrances to complete the 100 blessings. However, it’s important to note that you can’t keep repeating the same blessing unless you’ve stopped paying attention to the fragrance and then decided to smell it again. The rest of the blessings can be fulfilled by attentively listening to the chazzan‘s repetition of the Amidah.11
Guidelines for Blessings Over Fragrances
Once you’ve made a blessing over a spice, you can only say another blessing on that same spice if you’ve decided to stop smelling it and then changed your mind. If you intended to keep smelling it, you don’t need to say the blessing again, even if you’ve left the room. However, if a significant amount of time has passed, a new blessing is required.12
Different types of fragrances require different blessings (see below), so you can make a new blessing for each type of fragrance you enjoy. Additionally, if you didn’t plan to smell certain fragrances within the same class as the fragrance you’ve just enjoyed, you should repeat the blessing when you do decide to smell it. So, for example, if you just smelled some sweet herbs and said the appropriate blessing and your friend came over holding some other herbs, which you did not know he would bring, you should make the blessing again before smelling his herbs—even though it is a repeat of the blessing you just said..13
The Five Blessings Over Fragrances
As mentioned, there are specific blessings for different types of fragrances, just as there are blessings for food. However, there are no after-blessings for smells. The five blessings are:14
Baruch Atah A-donai, Elo-heinu Melech ha-olam …
- For pleasant-smelling fruits or foods that are smelled intentionally:
…hanotein rei’ach tov bapeirot
…Who gives pleasant fragrance to fruits. - For other fragrant substances that grow on trees:
… borei atzei besamim
… Who creates fragrant trees. - For fragrant substances that grow from the ground:
… borei isbei besamim
… Who creates fragrant grasses. - For substances that don’t grow on trees or the ground, like mushrooms, or for general/mixed fragrances:15
… borei minei besamim
… Who creates various kinds of spices. - For balsam and balsam oil, which are particularly esteemed in Israel:
… borei shemen areiv
… Who creates fragrant oil.16
May we all be sealed for a good, sweet and blessed new year!
See Talmud, Menachot 43b; Tur and Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 46:3.
Tur, Orach Chaim 46; Shulchan Aruch Harav, Orach Chaim 46:1.
Midrash Tanchuma, Korach 12, Bamidbar Rabbah 18:21.
Talmud, Menachot 43b.
There is discussion of how and whether this applies to women, who are not obligated to say many of these blessings (such as the blessing for tefillin and tallit). Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 216:4 (from Gemora Berochos 43b (and rashi there).
Shulchan Aruch Harav, Orach Chaim 46:1.
Seder Hayom – Meah Berachot; Shulchan Aruch Harav, Orach Chaim 46:1.
The breakdown is as follows (see Shulchan Aruch Harav, Orach Chaim 46:1): 57 for the three Amidah prayers, 2 before the recitation of the Shema in the Evening Service and 3 afterwards when including the blessing Yiru Eineinu, bringing the total to 62. At the evening meal, 8 blessings are recited: Al Netilas Yadayim, Hamotzi, the four of Grace, one before the cup of wine over which Grace is recited and one afterwards, bringing the total to 70. Afterward, when going to sleep, one recites Hamapil, and in the morning Al Netilat Yadayim, Asher Yatzar, and Elokai Neshamah, bringing the total to 74. The 15 blessings from Hanosen Lasechvi until Hagomel Chassadim Tovim bring the total to 89. The three blessings for Torah study, the two blessings recited over tefillin, the one over tzitzit, Baruch She’amar, Yishtabach, the two blessings before the Shema, and the one after it bring the total to 100.
Shulchan Aruch Harav, Orach Chaim 46:1
Ibid.
See Piskei Teshuvot 217:3
Ibid.
Seder Birchat Hanehenin, ch. 11.
This catch-all blessing is said over the Havdalah spices, regardless of what they are, even if normally a different blessing would be more appropriate.
See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 216:4 (from Talmud Berachot 43b (and Rashi ad. loc.).
