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Is one allowed to spray cologne on shabbos? Any rules against doing this?

As always, please cite your sources

msh210
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Bochur613
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  • assuming an atomizer is like an aerosol in dispersal, related http://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/12605/is-there-any-issue-with-using-aerosols-on-shabbos and assuming tat a spray is a spray and the issue isn't pikuach nefesh, it still seems ok http://www.torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5755/korach.html – rosends Dec 06 '13 at 02:51
  • but for a direct discussion https://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipDate=6/4/2010 – rosends Dec 06 '13 at 02:56
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    On clothing is problematic – sam Dec 06 '13 at 03:00
  • First, is a man allowed to spray cologne at all? – avi Dec 12 '13 at 15:39
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    Why do you think this may be prohibited that you ask? Please [edit] in your motivation to improve this post. – Double AA Apr 16 '15 at 04:43

1 Answers1

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The primary source is the in Gemara in Bietza 23a which discusses Molid Re'ech - creating a smell on an object.

Rashi (D'Ka Molid) there explains that it's a Rabbinic prohibition; it's similar to doing work.

This does not apply to food items, according to most Poskim - and according to how we Pasken.

The earlier Poskim argue if this applies to the body. For example, the Taz (511:8) disallowed it. However the Mishna Berura allows it. (This can be inferred from 327:1 that a healthy person can use Rose Water.)

There's some major discussion if it's allowed even if it will inevitably cause one's clothes to also smell good.

All this - with lots of sources - and more you can find on page 330 of Vol 3 in Sefer Orchot Shabbat (In Hebrew, by Rabbis Gelber and Rubin, Jerusalem 2009 ).

In short: If you spray it onto your body - but not enough that your clothes will smell of it - then everybody allows it.

Danny Schoemann
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