perfume

1 of 2

noun

per·​fume ˈpər-ˌfyüm  (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

perfume

2 of 2

verb

per·​fume (ˌ)pər-ˈfyüm 

ˈpər-ˌfyüm

perfumed; perfuming

transitive verb

: to fill or imbue with an odor

Synonyms of perfume

Noun

• scent
• fragrance
• aroma

Verb

• scent

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

During her first bombing, Ginny had run for shelter into a perfume shop, where the proprietress methodically moved each bottle from the streetfront vitrine into a neat line on the floor as the dust from the percussive bombs blotted out the sun. —Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026

The world of fragrance has been making a major comeback in the past couple years, with people shopping for their own individualized scents with the help of social media experts and trying out new perfumes in earnest. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2026

Verb

The scent of orange blossoms perfuming our neighborhoods. —Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026

Fragrant white tubular blooms add to this plant's charm, perfuming the garden in summer through fall. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for perfume

• assume
• backroom
• ballroom
• barroom
• bathroom
• bedroom
• boardroom
• bridegroom
• classroom
• cloakroom
• consume
• costume

Kids Definition

perfume

1 of 2 noun

per·​fume ˈpər-ˌfyüm  (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)