'perfume' originates from Latin and Old French, specifically the Latin verb 'perfumare' (from 'per-' + 'fumare') and the Old French 'parfum'/'perfumer', where 'per-' meant 'through' and 'fumare' meant 'to smoke'.

'perfume' changed from Latin 'perfumare' into Old French forms such as 'parfum'/'perfumer' and eventually entered Middle English as 'perfume', giving the modern English word 'perfume'.

Initially it meant 'to give scent by smoke' or 'to scent through smoke', but over time it evolved into the current meaning 'to add a pleasant smell'.