Perfume Definition: Usage, Idioms and Engaging Quiz

Watch how “perfume” fits so naturally into daily English with its examples.

The term “perfume” possesses a certain elegance, but building the vocabulary of related fragrance will give you the skill to talk about scents more easily and with greater assurance.

Related nouns: aroma essence cologne

Synonyms (contextual): scent fragrance

Common collocations: floral perfume expensive perfume strong perfume

To better understand how “perfume” functions in everyday parlance, look at these expressions:

With adjectives: classic perfume modern perfume seasonal perfume designer perfume

With verbs: wear perfume buy perfume choose perfume spray perfume

With nouns (noun + noun): perfume bottle perfume spray perfume shop perfume collection

The definition of “perfume” is reflected in these sayings, which recount how the scent is applied, how people become aware of it, and how they savor different aromas.

• Spray perfume — to put perfume on your body or clothes.

  She likes to spray perfume before going out with friends.

• Wear perfume — to have perfume on your body.

  He wore perfume to the meeting because he wanted to smell fresh.

• Choose a perfume — to pick a scent you like.

  I need time to choose a perfume that matches my style.

• Smell of perfume — how the scent of perfume is noticed.

  The room smelled of perfume after she walked in.

• Buy perfume — to purchase a bottle of perfume.

  He decided to buy perfume as a gift for his sister.

Answer the following questions to practice your knowledge and better define a “perfume.”

This table shows how to say “perfume” in three languages frequently spoken across Europe.

Here are some fascinating facts about perfume, its history, cultural importance, and famous creations that show how perfume can be much more than just a pleasant scent.

• The most expensive perfume ever sold cost over $1 million.

  Shumukh, the creation of Dubai, has the title of the most expensive fragrance in the world. The perfume, composed of such precious materials as Indian oud, Turkish rose, and sandalwood, is presented in a jeweled bottle made of diamonds, pearls, and 18-karat gold.

• Some perfumes use rare flowers that are picked carefully.

  Only certain exotic flowers, e.g., Jasmine Grandiflorum, are picked with great care in small quantities because only a few weeks they produce their flowers. This renders perfumes from these flowers extremely luxurious and costly.

• The oldest documented perfume was made more than 4,000 years ago.

  Perfume vials were discovered by archaeologists in the area of ancient Egypt. The formulas of these early perfumes included oils, herbs, and spices, which demonstrate that people’s admiration for scents has been around for thousands of years.

• Some perfumes are inspired by famous people.

  The fragrances of celebrities such as Chanel, Dior, Beyonce, etc. have become not only status symbols but also collectors’ items making significantly the scent of the fashion world.

Fragrance has evoked reflections concerning grace, recollection, and individualized fashion. Below are a few noteworthy quotations from renowned personalities that accentuate the allure and effect of using or smelling perfume.