The five senses are a gift from Allah Ta’ala to human beings. Of all our senses, smell is our most primal. Animals need the sense of smell to survive. For humans, the sense of smell communicates many of the pleasures in life--the aroma of bukhur in the masjid, fragrant flowers in a qubba shareefa, and a rose garden. Smells have strong effects on moods and mindsets. They have the power to induce comfort, anxiety, happiness and even concentration.

Each person emits a scent unique to them and is in turn attracted to particular smells; some are attracted to fragrances and some to unpleasant aromas.

Rasulullah ^(SAW) regularly applied misk (musk) so much so that his hair and beard would be tinged with its colour. A bottle of attar (perfume) was one of the six items Rasulullah ^(SAW) always carried when travelling. Interestingly, musk is one of the most multifaceted smells in nature; no other natural substance has such a complex aroma associated with so many contradictory descriptions.

Rasulullah ^(SAW) states

مَا طَابَتٍّ رَائِحَةُ عبدٍ الا زَادَ عَقٍّلُه
A man’s intellect is enhanced when he smells pure

Imam ja’far us Sadiq ^(SA) states

اَلِريحُ الطَّيِّبَةُ تَشُدُّ الٍّعَقٍّلَ
Pleasant fragrances sharpen the intellect

Apply this

One should never refuse teeb (perfume) when it is offered.

Ameerul Mumineen ^(SA) would admonish the person who refused the teeb he offered, saying:

لا يأبى مِنَ الكَرَامَةِ إلا حِمَارَ
Only a donkey will reject karaamat (respect).

Umme Labiba advised her daughter:

Take care of your husband’s eyes and nose; make sure he does not see upon you that which he does not like nor smell on you what offends him.