The berachah on besamim, when one has a cold

Hi,

Does one recite the berachah on besamim at Havdalah, if he cannot smell them due to a cold?

One who cannot smell should not recite a berachah on besamim, even if he is reciting Havdalah on behalf of a group; the others in the group should recite the berachah for themselves, before they smell the besamim.

If some in the group are unable to recite a berachah, then the leader should recite the berachah on their behalf despite his cold. He should only do so after drinking the wine from Havdalah, though.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 297:5; Har Tzvi Orach Chaim 1:37; Mishneh Halachos 15:89; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 61:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Which blessing do we recite for smelling sweet spices?

Hi,

One of the blessings of Havdalah is recited before smelling sweet spices.

We recite the blessing "Borei Minei Besamim (Who creates the different types of spices)," which is a catch-all for all types of spices, whether they come from bark or flowers or other materials.

Technically there are materials-specific blessings, and we use those other blessings at general times when we smell sweet spices, but for Havdalah we use this catch-all blessing in order to prevent people from making the wrong blessing; most people are not expert in the different types of spice-blessings.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 297:1; Mishneh Berurah 297:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai