Perfumes are used to give the human body a pleasant and (at times) a lasting smell. The use of perfume dates back to as early as the 14th century (in Europe) - the Renaissance period, where perfumes were used by the royalty and the wealthy people to mask their bodily odors (note that the sanitary practices during that day was different and considered 'less developed' as compared to the present day).

Today, perfumes are applied not only to the human body but also to objects and living spaces, such as the home, bath, in the car, and the office. In general, perfumes are used for the following reasons: