per·fume

[n. pur-fyoom, per-fyoom; v. per-fyoom, pur-fyoom] noun, verb, per·fumed, per·fum·ing.
noun
1.
a substance, extract, or preparation for diffusing or imparting an agreeable or attractive smell, especially a fluid containing fragrant natural oils extracted from flowers, woods, etc., or similar synthetic oils.
2.
the scent, odor, or volatile particles emitted by substances that smell agreeable.
verb (used with object)
3.
(of substances, flowers, etc.) to impart a pleasant fragrance to.
4.
to impregnate with a sweet odor; scent.
Origin:
1525–35; earlier parfume (noun) < Middle French parfum, noun derivative of parfumer (v.) < obsolete Italian parfumare (modern profumare). See per-, fume

Related forms
per·fume·less, adjective
per·fum·y, adjective
un·per·fumed, adjective

Synonyms
1. essence, attar, scent; incense. 2. Perfume, aroma, fragrance all refer to agreeable odors. Perfume often indicates a strong, rich smell, natural or manufactured: the perfume of flowers. Fragrance is usually applied to fresh, delicate, and delicious odors, especially from growing things: fragrance of new-mown hay. Aroma is restricted to a somewhat spicy smell: the aroma of coffee.

Antonyms
2. stench.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
perfume
 
—n
1.  cologne See also toilet water a mixture of alcohol and fragrant essential oils extracted from flowers, spices, etc, or made synthetically, used esp to impart a pleasant long-lasting scent to the body, stationery, etc
2.  a scent or odour, esp a fragrant one
 
—vb
3.  (tr) to impart a perfume to
 
[C16: from French parfum, probably from Old Provençal perfum, from perfumar to make scented, from per through (from Latin) + fumar to smoke, from Latin fumāre to smoke]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

perfume
1533, from M.Fr. parfum, from parfumer "to scent," from Prov. perfumar, from L. per- "through" (see per) + fumare "to smoke" (see fume). Earliest use in Eng. was in reference to fumes from something burning. Meaning "fluid containing agreeable essences
of flowers, etc., is attested from 1542. The verb is first recorded 1538.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The fresh milky odor is quite perceptible, also the perfume of hay from the barn.
One is worth more to scent your hand-kerchief with than any perfume which they sell in the shops.
It will raise sales taxes across the board and impose heavy duties on luxury items such as perfume and chocolate.
For example, don't use perfume or smelly products if they make your asthma worse.
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