perfume
Americannoun
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perfumes
plural
-
a substance, extract, or preparation for diffusing or imparting an agreeable or attractive smell, especially a fluid containing fragrant natural oils extracted from flowers, woods, etc., or similar synthetic oils.
-
the scent, odor, or volatile particles emitted by substances that smell agreeable.
- Antonyms:
- stench
verb (used with object)
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perfumes,
present (3rd person singular)
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perfumed,
past participle, past
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perfuming
present participle
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(of substances, flowers, etc.) to impart a pleasant fragrance to.
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to impregnate with a sweet odor; scent.
noun
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a mixture of alcohol and fragrant essential oils extracted from flowers, spices, etc, or made synthetically, used esp to impart a pleasant long-lasting scent to the body, stationery, etc See also cologne toilet water
-
a scent or odour, esp a fragrant one
verb
Synonym Usage
Perfume, aroma, fragrance all refer to agreeable odors. Perfume often indicates a strong, rich smell, natural or manufactured: the perfume of flowers. Fragrance is usually applied to fresh, delicate, and delicious odors, especially from growing things: fragrance of new-mown hay. Aroma is restricted to a somewhat spicy smell: the aroma of coffee.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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perfumesimple
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perfumessimple
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have perfumedperfect
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has perfumedperfect
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am perfumingprogressive
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are perfumingprogressive
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is perfumingprogressive
-
have been perfumingperfect progressive
-
has been perfumingperfect progressive
Past
-
perfumedsimple
-
had perfumedperfect
-
was perfumingprogressive
-
were perfumingprogressive
-
had been perfumingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of perfume
First recorded in 1525–35; earlier parfume (noun), from Middle French parfum, noun derivative of parfumer (verb), from obsolete Italian parfumare (modern profumare ). See per-, fume
Explanation
That delicious mid-summer smell in the middle of a rose garden? You can call that its perfume. If you apply scented oil to your neck and wrists before leaving your house every the morning, you know what perfume is. Another kind of perfume is one that doesn't come in a bottle, like the smell of your mom's cinnamon rolls or the salty fragrance of the ocean after a storm. The earliest use of perfume in English specifically meant "the smell of something burning," and the Latin root is smoky as well: fumare means "to smoke" and per means "through."
Vocabulary lists containing perfume
The Nose Knows: Olfactory Vocabulary
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Smell Words
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Unit 16
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Yes, they do, for perfume and for investing.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
The powder clings beautifully to potatoes before roasting, the dried dairy helping to encourage browning while the herbs perfume every bite.
From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026
In March, Estee Lauder said it was in talks to acquire Spanish beauty group Puig, which sells perfume, fashion, makeup and skin-care products from brands including Carolina Herrera, Charlotte Tilbury, Byredo and Dr. Barbara Sturm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
He also said that their two children reminded him of "the best" of Michelle and that they "ask for her perfume so they can still smell her".
From BBC ● May 20, 2026
I split my lip on the last tumble and tasted wet pennies and heavy perfume.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
That sounds healthy, but investors were spooked by low demand for Hermès’ clothing, watches and perfumes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
The devil only occasionally played a part in ads for fashion products, such as perfumes, makeup and handkerchiefs.
From Salon ● May 17, 2026
There have been reports of an uptick in luxury goods such as Chanel cosmetics and perfumes circulating among wealthy North Koreans, while fur coats have become popular in a city bordering China.
From BBC ● May 5, 2026
At another wholesale mall, iridescent streamers and gold mirror balls hung from the ceiling of Wen Linpeng's shop selling colourful soap bars, perfumes and make-up products.
From Barron's ● Apr. 23, 2026
Too heavy even to stand unassisted, he could not hold his water, so he always smelled of piss, a stench so sharp that even heavy perfumes could not conceal it.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
John Lavelle exudes a perfumed whiff of modern camp in his portrayal of Orsini-Rosenberg, the fussy, backstabbing director of the Imperial Opera.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2026
The steakhouse creamed spinach, perfumed with nutmeg and unapologetically rich.
From Salon ● Feb. 18, 2026
This dish, colored with saffron and perfumed with warm spices, was inspired by a meal I recently enjoyed in Rafidi’s luxuriously updated restaurant, and shares his locavore approach.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2025
Outside the clinic, in a "Koala Rehab Centre" faintly perfumed by eucalyptus leaves, is a three-year-old recovering from a hysterectomy.
From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2024
“Nothing to worry over, my dear,” his mother cooed, turning to her son and patting his face with a small, plump, perfumed hand.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
A loose-fingered sprinkle that collapsed into the pot like dried pine needles, instantly perfuming the steam.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2025
After some time in the oven, perfuming the entire house, the ham would emerge crispy and crackly on top—a perfect interplay of umami, sweetness, and spice.
From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2025
Thick smoke of burning incense penetrates the room, perfuming everything sacred.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2023
The Weeknd’s songs tint the show’s atmosphere — Episode 4 centered, right on the nose, on his too-languid cover of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” — ultimately perfuming the show with an ever-present whiff of self-satisfaction.
From New York Times ● Jun. 30, 2023
When I prepare this guacamole with Sinaloa, the smell of the warm tortillas for tacos rises, perfuming the kitchen.
From "Beast Rider" by Tony Johnston & María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
