A pleasing smell that rises from flowers, food, wood, earth, or any scented thing.
Examples
Le parfum du jasmin arrive jusqu'à la fenêtre.
The scent of jasmine reaches the window.
Un parfum de pain chaud flottait dans la rue.
A scent of warm bread floated through the street.
Après l'orage, le parfum de la terre monte du jardin.
After the storm, the scent of the earth rises from the garden.
Ce savon laisse un parfum discret sur les mains.
This soap leaves a discreet scent on the hands.
Le parfum des pins rappelle les vacances.
The scent of pines recalls holidays.
Similar words
odeur
senteur
arôme
effluve
fragrance
bouquet
Perfume product
noun
beauty
neutral
A scented liquid or blend made to be worn on the body or used to make something smell pleasant.
Examples
Elle porte le même parfum depuis des années.
She has worn the same perfume for years.
Ce parfum mêle la bergamote, l'iris et le cèdre.
This perfume blends bergamot, iris, and cedar.
Il a choisi un parfum léger pour la journée.
He chose a light perfume for the day.
Le flacon de parfum est presque vide.
The perfume bottle is almost empty.
La parfumerie propose des parfums rares.
The perfumery offers rare perfumes.
Similar words
eau de parfum
eau de toilette
extrait
essence
Food flavor
noun
food
neutral
A distinctive taste or aroma in food and drink, especially a named flavor of ice cream or dessert.
Examples
Quel parfum de glace préfères-tu ?
Which ice cream flavor do you prefer?
Ce sorbet a un parfum de framboise très net.
This sorbet has a very clear raspberry flavor.
La menthe donne un parfum frais à la salade.
Mint gives the salad a fresh aroma.
Le parfum fumé du thé se marie au citron.
The smoky flavor of the tea pairs with lemon.
La sauce garde un léger parfum d'estragon.
The sauce keeps a slight tarragon flavor.
Similar words
arôme
goût
saveur
bouquet
fumet
Hint or atmosphere
noun
figurative
neutral
A subtle impression that colors a place, story, remark, or situation.
Examples
Cette vieille photo garde un parfum d'enfance.
This old photo keeps a hint of childhood.
Le roman a un parfum de mystère dès les premières pages.
The novel has an air of mystery from the first pages.
La soirée avait un parfum de scandale.
The evening had a whiff of scandal.
Son discours laisse un parfum de nostalgie.
His speech leaves a hint of nostalgia.
La ville conserve un parfum d'aventure.
The city keeps an air of adventure.
Similar words
note
touche
air
soupçon
nuance
ambiance
Etymology
Derived from French parfumer, with the noun attested from the sixteenth century for a pleasant natural or artificial smell.
FAQ
What does parfum mean in French?
Parfum can mean a pleasant scent, a perfume product, a food flavor, or a figurative hint or atmosphere.
Is parfum masculine or feminine?
Parfum is masculine: le parfum, un parfum.
How is parfum pronounced?
Parfum is pronounced /paʁ.fœ̃/.
Can parfum mean flavor?
Yes. In food contexts, parfum often means a flavor or aroma, as in un parfum de glace.
What does un parfum de mystère mean?
Un parfum de mystère means a hint or air of mystery, not a literal smell.
What is the plural of parfum?
The regular plural is parfums.
Comments & contributions
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Midnight Salamander
Jul 13
mettre quelqu'un au parfum = clue someone in. very normal casual phrase
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Contribution
Cobalt Impala
Jun 29
For ice cream in France I would ask vous avez quels parfums ? Saveur is understood, but it sounds more label / ad copy to my ear. Quebec friends say saveur way more, and crème glacée rather than glace.
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Contribution
Hidden Crane
Jun 18
On EU cosmetic labels, PARFUM can just be the legal ingredient-list word for the fragrance mixture. You see it on shampoo, face cream, deodorant etc, not only on a bottle of perfume. If someone has fragrance allergy, that tiny word matters.