WordGarden.ioperfume
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈpɜːfjuːm/countableuncountablenoun
US
- /pərfˈjum/
Meanings
Noun
a scented liquid worn on the body
a pleasant smell
Verb
to make something smell pleasant or sweet
Beyond the definition
Perfume is more than something that smells nice. It is a scented liquid people put on their skin or clothes to smell pleasant. People often wear it for work, a night out, a special event, or simply as part of their daily routine. A small amount can leave a soft scent that others notice as you pass by.
Many are made from a blend of fragrant oils, alcohol, and other ingredients. As the scent changes over time, you may notice a fresh smell at first and a warmer one later. People choose different kinds to match their mood, the season, or the image they want to give. In that way, it can feel personal, almost like part of someone's style.
Perfume is a fragrant liquid used to impart a pleasant smell, typically to the skin or clothing. However, its history and usage are far richer than that simple definition suggests. From ancient Egypt, where scented oils were used in religious rituals and for personal grooming, to modern-day fragrance houses creating complex compositions, perfume has always been intertwined with culture, status, and self-expression.
In everyday English, the word often refers both to a specific strong fragrance product and, more loosely, to personal fragrance in general. Stores may sell parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne. These differ mainly in how concentrated they are, which affects how strong they smell and how long they last.
People wear perfume for many reasons. Some want to smell clean or elegant. Some use it to stand out, while others choose a light scent that stays close to the skin. A fragrance can also bring back memories, shape a first impression, or become part of how a person is recognized by friends and family.
The idea behind perfume is old. Early people burned or mixed aromatic materials, and over time those experiments turned into the art of modern fragrance making. Today, a bottle may be designed with layers, often called notes, that appear one after another. The first impression may be bright and quick, the middle richer, and the final scent deeper and longer-lasting. So while perfume may seem like a small luxury, it also carries history, craft, memory, and personal taste in just a few drops.
Examples
- 1
Getting ready
She put on a little perfume before dinner.
- 2
Daily habit
Do you wear perfume every day, or only on special occasions?
- 3
Shared space
The elevator smelled strongly of perfume.
- Patternsmell of + scent
have that smell
- 4
Gift
He bought her a small bottle of perfume for her birthday.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Fragrance preference
This perfume is too sweet for me; I prefer something lighter.
- 6
Product types
The shop sells perfumes from small independent brands.
- Grammarperfumes
different kinds of perfume or perfume products
- 7
Pleasant smell
Roses perfumed the warm evening air.
- Phraseperfume the air
fill the air with a pleasant smell
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- perfumenounverb
Forms
- perfumespluralnounverb
- perfumedpast tenseverbnoun
- perfuming-ing formverbnoun