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
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
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 July 2025
At Bond perfume stores in NYC, shops are designed to sit clients down and have sales people tell them one-on-one, the brand’s inspiration story of how the founder fell in love with New York and developed fragrances to represent each neighborhood.
—Michelle Greenwald, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
Essence, 22 July 2025
Warm, nutty aromas perfume the air at the La Tourangelle oil mill in northwest Woodland.
—Sacbee.com, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for perfume
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Noun
Showy blue to lavender blooms perfume the garden early to mid-summer, attracting scores of butterflies.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 July 2025
At Bond perfume stores in NYC, shops are designed to sit clients down and have sales people tell them one-on-one, the brand’s inspiration story of how the founder fell in love with New York and developed fragrances to represent each neighborhood.
—Michelle Greenwald, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
Verb
The Jamaican mountain air clung close, warm and perfumed with sage.
—Essence, 22 July 2025
Warm, nutty aromas perfume the air at the La Tourangelle oil mill in northwest Woodland.
—Sacbee.com, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for perfume
Cite this Entry
“Perfume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfume. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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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