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
Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
Shiny perfume bottles, lush cosmetic boxes, and glistening spirit flasks evoke the desire to purchase.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
More broadly, the Costume Institute has undertaken a careful study of postures, perfumes, habits, and mores in the milieus where the garments first lived.
—Nathan Heller, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
Although the mainstream perfume business has long run on seduction, celebrity and the idea that a person must have a signature scent, a burgeoning countermovement, driven by independent artisans, is questioning the idea that a perfume’s central function is to delight the noses of others.
—Cassidy George, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
But despite the global sourcing of perfume ingredients, Western players have largely dominated the industry.
—Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
The main ingredient in this DIY perfume was vanilla extract.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
Vernon knows that some of her clients use perfume as a tool to embody their truest self, and others use it like playing dress-up, sharing a different iteration of their identity.
—Alice Wolfe, Allure, 15 Mar. 2024
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
Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2024
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
Noun
Named for night-blooming jasmine, the song wafts like that flower’s scent, and Thompson captures that melancholy sweetness in the black-and-white video, which features two women who could be falling in love — or starring in a Lynchian perfume commercial.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
Shiny perfume bottles, lush cosmetic boxes, and glistening spirit flasks evoke the desire to purchase.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
More broadly, the Costume Institute has undertaken a careful study of postures, perfumes, habits, and mores in the milieus where the garments first lived.
—Nathan Heller, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
Although the mainstream perfume business has long run on seduction, celebrity and the idea that a person must have a signature scent, a burgeoning countermovement, driven by independent artisans, is questioning the idea that a perfume’s central function is to delight the noses of others.
—Cassidy George, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
But despite the global sourcing of perfume ingredients, Western players have largely dominated the industry.
—Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
The main ingredient in this DIY perfume was vanilla extract.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
Vernon knows that some of her clients use perfume as a tool to embody their truest self, and others use it like playing dress-up, sharing a different iteration of their identity.
—Alice Wolfe, Allure, 15 Mar. 2024
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
Verb
That mofongo, studded with bits of smoky tempeh, is served atop a pool of pale coconut-cream sauce perfumed with curry.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2024
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near perfume
Cite this Entry
“Perfume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfume. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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)
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