King James Bible Dictionary

General references
Proverbs 27:9; Song of Solomon 3:6; Isaiah 57:9

Used in the tabernacle
Exodus 30:7; Exodus 35:28

Beds perfumed with myrrh
Proverbs 7:17

Smelling bottles, sometimes translated tablets
Isaiah 3:20

PERFU'ME, noun [Latin per and fumus, smoke, or fumo, to fumigate.]

1. A substance that emits a scent or odor which affects agreeably the organs of smelling, as musk, civet, spices or aromatics of any kind; or any composition of aromatic substances.

2. The scent, odor or volatile particles emitted from sweet smelling substances.

No rich perfumes refresh the fruitful field.

PERFU'ME, verb transitive To scent; to fill or impregnate with a grateful odor; as, to perfume an apartment; to perfume a garment.

And Carmel's flower top perfumes the skies.

PERFU'MED, participle passive Scented; impregnated with fragrant odors.

PERFU'MER, noun He or that which perfumes.

1. One whose trade is to see perfumes.

PERFU'MERY, noun Perfumes in general.

Were used in religious worship, and for personal and domestic enjoyment (Exodus 30:35-37; Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 3:6; Isaiah 57:9); and also in embalming the dead, and in other funeral ceremonies (Mark 14:8; Luke 24:1; John 19:39).

The free use of perfumes was peculiarly grateful to the Orientals, (Proverbs 27:9) whose olfactory nerves are more than usually sensitive to the offensive smells engendered by the heat of their climate. The Hebrews manufactured their perfumes chiefly from spices imported from Arabia though to a certain extent also from aromatic plants growing in their own country. Perfumes entered largely into the temple service, in the two forms of incense and ointment. (Exodus 30:22-38) Nor were they less used in private life; not only were they applied to the person, but to garment, (Psalms 45:8; Solomon 4:11) and to articles of furniture, such as beds. (Proverbs 7:17)