perfume
B1Neutral (used in both formal and informal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A pleasant-smelling liquid applied to the body, typically made from essential oils and used to impart a pleasant odour.
Any pleasant natural odour or scent; a fragrant substance used to scent the air or objects; or, as a verb, to impart a pleasant scent to something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it refers to the product/aroma; as a verb, it's a causative action (to make fragrant). Can be countable ('perfumes') or uncountable ('a hint of perfume').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the noun is pronounced with primary stress on the first syllable /ˈpɜːfjuːm/. In the US, both noun and verb are pronounced with stress on the second syllable /pərˈfjuːm/ (for noun) and /pərˈfjuːm/ (for verb). Spelling is identical.
Connotations
British usage may slightly more often associate with high-end luxury brands (e.g., 'French perfume'). American usage may be slightly more frequent as a product category (e.g., 'perfume counter').
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both regions. The US may have a slightly higher frequency of the verb usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[N] to perfume sth [with sth][N] to be perfumed [by/with sth][V] perfume (oneself/air/hands)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “perfume of success (rare)”
- “not all perfume and roses”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the fragrance industry, marketing of luxury goods, product development.
Academic
Used in chemistry (volatile compounds), history of trade (perfume routes), sensory studies.
Everyday
Talking about personal grooming, gifts, smells in the environment.
Technical
In perfumery: refers to specific notes (top, middle, base), concentration (parfum vs. eau de toilette).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She would perfume her handkerchief with lavender oil.
- The evening air was perfumed with jasmine.
American English
- The company perfumes its products with a signature blend.
- Her letters were always lightly perfumed.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (use 'perfumed' as adjective)
American English
- N/A (use 'perfumed' as adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She wears perfume every day.
- I like the smell of this perfume.
- The perfume is in a small bottle.
- He bought her an expensive French perfume for her birthday.
- The strong perfume in the shop made me sneeze.
- This perfume has notes of rose and vanilla.
- The subtle perfume of the night-blooming flowers filled the terrace.
- Critics said the novel was beautifully written but ultimately a light literary perfume.
- She carefully selected a perfume that would complement her personal style.
- The air was perfumed with the scent of orange blossoms from the groves below.
- His speech was an attempt to perfume the harsh realities of the economic data.
- The perfumer laboured for months to create a unique and enduring perfume.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PERfect FUME' – a perfect, pleasant fume or smell.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLEASANT SCENT IS LUXURY/AFFLUENCE (e.g., 'the perfume of wealth'); SCENT IS AN ENVELOPING CLOUD (e.g., 'perfume filled the room').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'perfume' for all scents – 'perfume' is typically for humans, 'fragrance' or 'scent' is broader (for flowers, etc.).
- Do not confuse with 'perfumery' (the art/place) vs. 'perfume' (the product).
- In Russian, 'парфюм' often implies the general category; in English, 'perfume' is a specific strong concentration.
Common Mistakes
- Pronunciation errors: stressing wrong syllable (UK vs US).
- Using 'perfume' as an adjective (use 'perfumed' e.g., 'perfumed letter', not 'perfume letter').
- Overusing as a verb in everyday speech ('She perfumed herself' is less common than 'She put on perfume').
Practice
Quiz
In British English, which syllable is primarily stressed in the noun 'perfume'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. Uncountable when referring to the substance in general ('There's too much perfume in here'). Countable when referring to types or bottles ('She has a collection of fine perfumes').
'Perfume'/'parfum' has the highest oil concentration and lasts longest. 'Eau de toilette' and 'cologne' (often for men) have lower concentrations. 'Fragrance' is a general, neutral term for any scented product.
In both UK and US English, the verb is stressed on the second syllable: /pəˈfjuːm/ (UK), /pərˈfjuːm/ (US). The noun differs: UK stresses first syllable, US stresses second.
No. 'Perfume' inherently denotes a pleasant, often sophisticated scent. For unpleasant smells, use 'stench', 'odour', 'reek', etc. Using 'perfume' ironically is possible but rare.