This feminine plural noun designates female perfumers or ointment-makers, appearing in 1 Samuel 8:13 where Samuel warns that a future king will conscript Israelite daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers for the royal court. The grouping with other culinary and aromatic specialists suggests these women would produce the luxury goods required by monarchy—fragrant oils, cosmetics, and incense. The warning presents royal service as burdensome appropriation of family members.