perfume Hear it!

perfume Definition

per·fume (pər fyo̵̅o̅m′; also, and for n. usually, pʉr′fyo̵̅o̅m′)

transitive verb -·fumed′, -·fum′·ing

  1. to fill with a fragrant or pleasing odor; scent
  2. to put perfume on; dab, spray, etc. with perfume

Etymology: MFr parfumer < It perfumare < L per-, intens. + fumare, to smoke < fumus, smoke: see fume

noun

  1. a pleasing smell or odor; sweet scent, as of flowers; fragrance
  2. a substance producing a fragrant or pleasing odor; esp., a volatile oil, as that extracted from flowers, or a substance like this prepared synthetically

Etymology: MFr parfum < the v.

perfume Synonyms

perfume

n.

scent, fragrance, aroma, odor, sweetness, bouquet, redolence, sachet, incense; see also smell 1.

Perfumes include: attar of roses, sandalwood, balm, bergamot, essential oil, bay oil, bay, rosemary, bay rum, frankincense, myrrh, civet, eau de cologne, musk, rose water, eau de toilette, toilet water, orange-flowers, potpourri, muscadine, spice, sachet, lavender, jasmine, patchouli, rose geranium.

perfume suggests a relatively strong, but usually pleasant, smell, either natural or manufactured the rich perfume of gardenias; scent, in this comparison, implies a relatively faint but pervasive smell, esp. one characteristic of a particular thing the scent of apple blossoms; fragrance implies an agreeable, sweet smell, esp. of growing things the fragrance of a freshly mowed field; bouquet is specifically applied to the fragrance of a wine or brandy; redolence implies a rich, pleasant combination of smells the redolence of a grocery

perfume Usage Examples

Object

  • soap: Use tea tree soap - harsh or perfumed soaps can further irritate the skin.
  • nose: A delicate, perfumed nose gives way to a very pure blackcurrant palate.
  • oil: It was fashionable for men in the 1940s to put perfumed oil in their hair.

Converse of object

  • pour: This woman poured perfume on my body to prepare me for burial.
  • smell: She was close enough that he could smell the perfume she wore.
  • wear: She is toned and tanned and always wears sweet perfume.

Adjective modifier

  • heady: There they happily dispense their heady perfume into the cool air.
  • discounted: Fragrance Direct sell branded, discounted perfumes and aftershaves.
  • exquisite: It was skimmed off and found to be an exquisite perfume.
  • delicate: There'll be palms, sweet oranges and pomegranates emerging from ferns, with a delicate perfume of jasmine and wax flowers.
  • sweet: Cherry blossoms scented the air in long endless ribbons of sweet perfume, like the incense inside mortal temples.
  • synthetic: We have sourced suppliers of toiletries and skin creams who do not use ANY chemicals such as foaming agents or synthetic perfumes.

Modifies a noun

  • bottle: Get your blue taper glass perfume bottle here, today.
  • counter: Beware the girls at perfume counters trying to spray you!
  • factory: Did the girls get you to go to the perfume factory?

Modifying Another Word

delicately: The flesh is very sweet, crisp and juicy with a delicately perfumed quality.

Noun used with modifier

  • glass: Get your blue taper glass perfume bottle here, today.
  • designer: Cheap Smells - This Channel Islands company sells a very large range of designer perfume at up to 70 % off the RRP.
  • g: Now you get g perfume card, which only tests the perfume - not the perfume's effect on the wearer.

Preposition: of

flower: They will smell different things - gasoline, food cooking, burning, grass just cut, perfumes of garden flowers.