perfumeryn.
/pəˈfjuːm(ə)ri/, U.S. /pərˈfjum(ə)ri/ 1. Perfume generally; perfumes collectively. Also: †preparations used in perfume (obsolete).figurative in quot. 1766.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [noun] > fragrant substance or perfume > collectively
perfumery1766
1766 Genuine Mem. Maria Brown I. viii. 72 Dorimont, that compendium of perfumery, who spoke only to hear his own sweet voice.
1778 H. Glasse (title) The Art of Cookery, made plain and easy..also fifty receipts for different articles of perfumery.
1849 Amer. Whig Rev. Oct. 380/1 The place where all domestic perfumeries and essences are distilled.
1911 E. Ferber Dawn O'Hara iii. 34 A motherly hug..enveloped me in an atmosphere of liquid face-wash, strong perfumery and fried lard.
1946 Liberty 1 June 45/2 Sheba didn't wear perfumery but she had a clean, washed-baby kind of smell that sure was nice.
2003 Times (Nexis) 6 Dec. 53 Cosmetics and perfumery are traditional bestsellers at this time of year.
2. The preparation or production of perfumes; the trade, business, or craft of a perfumer.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > perfume making > [noun] > business of
perfumery1783
1783 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 73 239 The use of ambergrise in Europe is now nearly confined to perfumery.
1800 tr. E. J. B. Bouillon-Lagrange Man. Course Chem. II. 387 Fourcroy is of opinion that it might be employed in perfumery.
1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) v. 55 Compromises between medicine and perfumery, in the shape of toothsome lozenges and virgin honey.
1865 Public Opinion 7 Jan. 19 Perfume, as its name imports, was..originally incense, the earliest use of perfumery having been to offer sweet odours to the gods.
1937 Thorpe's Dict. Appl. Chem. (ed. 4) I. 33/2 Cyclic acetals, of use in perfumery and as industrial solvents, are made by condensing dihydric alcohols with unsubstituted araliphatic aldehydes.
1990 D. Ackerman Nat. Hist. Senses i. 49 You can actually smell the accords, which are like musical chords. Perfumery is closely related to music.
3. As a count noun: a perfumer's place of business; a shop, or department in a shop, where perfumes are sold.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > perfume making > [noun] > place
perfumery1786
perfumatory1856
1786 N.Y. Packet 2 Jan. 1/3 (advt.) The variety of goods that he makes and sells in the Perfumery..being too numerous to mention here [etc.].
1843 E. A. Poe Marie Roget in Tales (1845) I. 154 Marie..made her re-appearance at her usual counter in the perfumery.
1893 F. G. Kenyon Hyperides Introd. 16 Midas was employed by Athenogenes as manager of a perfumery.
1940 ‘N. Shute’ Landfall v. 128 If she could get into a big shop, now, in the perfumery or the ladies' gowns.
2003 Daily Tel. (Sydney) (Nexis) 28 May (Mag.) s4 $120 for 75ml from leading department stores, pharmacies and perfumeries.
Compounds
General attributive.
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?1775 Eastern Star A wholesale and retail Perfumery Warehouse.
1841 M. Elphinstone Hist. India II. ix. iii. 341 Every department, from the Mint and the Treasury down to the fruit, perfumery, and flower offices.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. II. 1053/1 Serpolet, an essential perfumery oil obtained from Thymus Serpyllum.
1924 Times Trade & Engin. Suppl. 29 Nov. 243/2 Quite a number of changes have taken place among perfumery chemicals.
1995 Vogue Dec. 204/2 Our native fragrances..are shunted off to the toiletry shelves, where they stand bereft of that all-important glow of perfumery-hall hype.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1766