Q. A Mufti mentioned to me that if a person smells perfume, lobaan etc. whilst fasting, the fasting will be nullified. What about a woman who is cooking in a kitchen a she cannot avoid the smell of food etc. in the kitchen, will it nullify the fast?
A. If a woman is cooking in the kitchen and the smell of food etc. in the kitchen cannot be avoided, then the fast will valid. In fact, the unavoidable smell in the kitchen would not affect the fast in any way. However, if the food etc. is smelled or inhaled intentionally, then the fast will be null and void. (Shaami 2/395)
Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ismaeel Bassa