attar
/ˈatə
/(also otto)
noun
A fragrant essential oil, typically made from rose petals: attar of roses...
- More than 90 per cent of the rose attar produced in Bulgaria is exported to the US, France and Switzerland.
- The valley of Taif in Western Saudi Arabia near Jeddah is famous the world over for its rose attar and water.
- This is because they contain the same essential oils as attar of roses.
Origin
Late 17th century: via Persian from Arabic ‘iṭr 'perfume, essence'.