Chapter 58: 4-6
The Blessing Recited over Fragrances
4. On fragrant grasses and vegetables, one should recite the blessing:
[Boruch Attoh A-d-o-n-o-i E-l-o-h-e-i-n-u Melech ho'olom] borey isvei
besomim. (Blessed are You, G-d, our Lord, King of the Universe, Who creates
grasses with fragrance.) ( The "Ayin" is pronounced with a chirik [.] and
the "Beis" has no dot, [and is thus, pronounced as a "v,"] because the
chirik [.] is a short vowel.)
In this context, one may distinguish between a tree and a vegetable as
follows. The category "trees" includes any plant: a) whose stem is as firm
as the stem of flax, b) which remains throughout the entire year, and c)
produces leaves.
Those with soft stems require the blessing isvei besomim.*
* {Most flowers are included in this category. The Mishna B'rurah 216,
Bi'ur Halacha raises questions about the blessing appropriate for a plant
with a firm stem that does remain throughout the year.}
5. A substance which is neither a product of a tree nor an herb - e.g.,
musk - requires the blessing: [Boruch Attoh A-d-o-n-o-i E-l-o-h-e-i-n-u
Melech ho'olom] borey minei besomim. (Blessed are You, G-d, our Lord, King
of the Universe, Who creates various types of fragrance.)
It appears to me that his blessing is also recited when one smells dried
mushrooms that have a pleasant fragrance.
6. A special blessing was instituted for balsam oil which is produced in
Eretz Yisroel, because of the prominence of the fact that it grows in Eretz
Yisroel. One recites the blessing: [Boruch Attoh A-d-o-n-o-i
E-l-o-h-e-i-n-u Melech ho'olom] borey shemen orev. (Blessed are You, G-d,
our Lord, King of the Universe, Who creates pleasant oil.)
