גChelek 3
- The beracha on smelling spices should always be Boray Minay V’somim so people don’t make mistakes about the appropriate type of b’somim beracha. But, l’chatchila, get musk or cloves who’s berachos are Minay V’somim anyhow. (MB )
- If you don’t have spices on hand you don’t need to go searching – they are only to comfort the aching soul that is void of Shabbos. (ShA – MB )
- Do not say the beracha on spices that are meant to deodorise, or to honor a dead person. If you did, the beracha didn’t count – get other spices. (ShA – MB )
- An empty container of b’somim that still has a nice aroma is not eligible for a beracha unless some residue remains inside from the b’somim. (MB )
- You can take cooking spices from the kitchen to make the beracha of Boray Minay V’somim on them. However, it is better to have a special container of b’somim for Havdalla. This is what most people do. (MB )
- If you don’t have a sense of smell, you may not say the beracha on b’somim unless you are being motzi children of chinuch age who will smell the spices.