per·fume
ˈpər-ˌfyüm 
(ˌ)pər-ˈfyüm
(ˌ)pər-ˈfyüm
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
Synonyms
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
Hadley Meares, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
Parma’s Mad Perfumer: The Italian city is one of aromas, with a startling number of perfume stores lining the streets.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Those materials were primarily soaps and perfumes, officials said.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
As a result, all employees have been told not to wear perfumes or aftershave or anything scented.
—Karla Miller, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
The Corvette smoked its tires and disappeared into a mist of putrid rubber perfume, as the Prancing Horse very likely blew up its expensive V-12 engine, miserably failing to keep pace with Detroit’s iron-lump.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024
Two days before launching a perfume brand, Jenner unveiled Sprinter, a line of 100-calorie vodka sodas infused with real fruit juice.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 8 Mar. 2024
Display fancy perfume bottles, acrylic makeup organizers, and beautiful jewelry boxes.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024
Use it as a serving, jewelry, perfume, makeup, coffee, tea, or trinket tray.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
One of Librae’s most popular (and photographed) pastries is a croissant that splits at the seam to reveal a rich frangipane perfumed with pistachio and rose.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2024
Delta Air Lines perfumed its planes with Calm (lavender and chamomile).
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
New head coach Raheem Morris didn’t try to perfume the air when asked last week about the team’s quarterback play.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
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
Noun
There is the flaming red wig worn by Lucille Ball in Du Barry Was a Lady, the gate from Jane Russell’s childhood home, Jean Harlow’s bottle of Mitsouko perfume, jewelry worn by Carole Lombard, and Mae West’s personal telephone.
—Hadley Meares, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
Parma’s Mad Perfumer: The Italian city is one of aromas, with a startling number of perfume stores lining the streets.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Those materials were primarily soaps and perfumes, officials said.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
As a result, all employees have been told not to wear perfumes or aftershave or anything scented.
—Karla Miller, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
The Corvette smoked its tires and disappeared into a mist of putrid rubber perfume, as the Prancing Horse very likely blew up its expensive V-12 engine, miserably failing to keep pace with Detroit’s iron-lump.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024
Two days before launching a perfume brand, Jenner unveiled Sprinter, a line of 100-calorie vodka sodas infused with real fruit juice.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 8 Mar. 2024
Display fancy perfume bottles, acrylic makeup organizers, and beautiful jewelry boxes.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024
Use it as a serving, jewelry, perfume, makeup, coffee, tea, or trinket tray.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
Even Alain’s relative bohemia of a furnished sublet is absurdly comfortable; if Jean’s circle of bankers and politicians reeks of money, Alain’s artistic one is perfumed by it.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
One of Librae’s most popular (and photographed) pastries is a croissant that splits at the seam to reveal a rich frangipane perfumed with pistachio and rose.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2024
Delta Air Lines perfumed its planes with Calm (lavender and chamomile).
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
New head coach Raheem Morris didn’t try to perfume the air when asked last week about the team’s quarterback play.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
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
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
Dictionary Entries Near perfume
Cite this Entry
“Perfume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfume. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
perfume
1 of 2 noun
per·fume
ˈpər-ˌfyüm
(ˌ)pər-ˈfyüm
(ˌ)pər-ˈfyüm
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
ˈpər-ˌfyüm
perfumed; perfuming
: to fill with a pleasing odor (as of flowers)
More from Merriam-Webster on perfume
Nglish: Translation of perfume for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of perfume for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about perfume
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