Perfume (parfum in French) is a mixture of aromatic essential oils or aromatic substances, used to give the human body, animals, food, objects and homes, a pleasant smell.

Ancient texts and archeological excavations show that perfumes were used in several of the ancient civilizations. Modern perfumery began in the late 19th century with the synthesis of aromatic ingredients, such as vanillin and coumarin, which allowed the composition of perfumes that was previously not possible with the use of natural fragrances alone.