perfume

1 of 2

noun

1
: the scent of something sweet-smelling
2
: a substance that emits a pleasant odor
especially : a fluid preparation of natural essences (as from plants or animals) or synthetics and a fixative used for scenting

perfume

2 of 2

verb

per·​fume (ˌ)pər-ˈfyüm How to pronounce perfume (audio)
ˈpər-ˌfyüm
perfumed; perfuming

transitive verb

: to fill or imbue with an odor
Choose the Right Synonym for perfume

fragrance, perfume, scent, redolence mean a sweet or pleasant odor.

fragrance suggests the odors of flowers or other growing things.

the fragrance of pine

perfume may suggest a stronger or heavier odor.

the perfume of lilacs

scent is very close to perfume but of wider application because more neutral in connotation.

scent-free soaps

redolence implies a mixture of fragrant or pungent odors.

the redolence of a forest after a rain

Examples of perfume in a Sentence

Noun She smelled the different perfumes at the store. the perfume of fresh flowers filled the room Verb The meal included a delicate fish perfumed with butter and herbs. a time when it was common for men to perfume their hair
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Stores ditched the loud music and thick clouds of perfume. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 The 26-year-old entrepreneur released news of the perfume on March 1 on her Instagram account with a dreamy, out-of-this-world video directed by Korean photographer and KUSIKOHC founder Cho Gi-Seok. Ayesha Rajan, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 In the next five years, Gomez sees herself opening a small east-side taco shop filled with the perfume of hot nixtamal tortillas and stewed meats that have simmered for hours. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 At the time Lancôme said that women dream to be young and that advertisements for perfume and cosmetics are all about seduction, so that idea is associated with a younger woman, not a woman in her 40s. Lulu Garcia-Navarro, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 More passengers flowing through bigger terminals created more opportunities to sell them more duty free perfume and gadgets. Michael Barnard, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 There were usually gifts of flowers, perfume or jewelry. Leanne Italie, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2024 Forget about commercial perfumes like the classic elegance of Chanel No. 5, or even the youthful comfort bottled inside Bath and Body Works’ Warm Vanilla Sugar. Katie Lauer, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024 This may involve skincare, haircare, personal hygiene, using perfume or mints for fresh breath, wearing new and flattering clothes or smiling more. Mark Travers, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
While the fish cooks, coriander side down in the pan, the seeds gently toast, perfuming your kitchen with a savory citrus aroma like no food-scented candle ever could. Carly Westerfield, Bon Appétit, 9 Mar. 2024 Tien elevates the idea by wrapping ground Wagyu beef, perfumed with lemongrass and funky with fish sauce, in easier-to-find perilla leaves that give the meat a minty freshness. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 White, lavender, deep purple, and even rare yellow and blue lilacs perfuming the air. Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The slowly bubbling cauldron gradually perfumes the air through the night, spreading through the sleeping house like an open secret. Benjamin Dubow, Longreads, 20 Feb. 2024 This biz brainstorms fanciful flavors—such as vanilla bean ice cream perfumed with a hint of jasmine and lychee jellies; mellow jackfruit cream with lightly roasted chili cashew nuts; and mango ice cream with peach-mango fruit swirls and pie crust crunch. Laura Manske, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 In the Mexican city that once perfumed the world, a push to revive vanilla In Papantla, Mexico, once a major vanilla-producing city, the spice is still strongly tied to people’s identity. Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024 The waiting room was heavily perfumed, with soaring wood ceilings that reminded me of upscale hotels. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2024 Thousands of fresh flowers perfume the hall with a rosy scent. Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perfume.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French perfum, probably from Old Occitan, from perfumar to perfume, from per- thoroughly (from Latin) + fumar to smoke, from Latin fumare, from fumus smoke — more at fume

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1546, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perfume was in 1546

Dictionary Entries Near perfume

Cite this Entry

“Perfume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfume. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

perfume

1 of 2 noun
1
: the scent of something usually sweet-smelling
2
: a substance that gives off a pleasant odor
especially : a liquid containing fragrant oils (as from flowers) mixed with alcohol and applied to the body to give it a pleasant odor

perfume

2 of 2 verb
per·​fume (ˌ)pər-ˈfyüm How to pronounce perfume (audio)
ˈpər-ˌfyüm
perfumed; perfuming
: to fill with a pleasing odor (as of flowers)

More from Merriam-Webster on perfume

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