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
Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Likewise, the product offering grew over the years to include several licenses, ranging from jeans and perfumes to home — the latter called Valentino Più.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Aleksandra Crapanzano, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025
Fortunately, that something can be as easy as spicing it with ginger, perfuming it with florals or smoke, or easier still and our favorite version, adding a grapefruit peel to the shaker tin before shaking on ice.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perfume
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Noun
Buyers don’t want to be reminded of strong perfumes that resurface certain memories when touring a home, so rose scents of any kind should only be enjoyed after a homeowner is done touring their property.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Likewise, the product offering grew over the years to include several licenses, ranging from jeans and perfumes to home — the latter called Valentino Più.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
Then, one night, my mother made a chocolate mousse, ever so slightly perfumed with Poire William.
—Aleksandra Crapanzano, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025
Fortunately, that something can be as easy as spicing it with ginger, perfuming it with florals or smoke, or easier still and our favorite version, adding a grapefruit peel to the shaker tin before shaking on ice.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 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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