attar

noun

at·​tar ˈa-tər  ˈa-ˌtär 

variants or less commonly otto

ˈä-(ˌ)tō 

: a fragrant essential oil (as from rose petals)

also : fragrance

Synonyms of attar

• scent
• fragrance
• aroma
• perfume
• fragrancy

Examples of attar in a Sentence

exuding the attar of jasmine, the beautifully bejeweled woman set off for the ball

Recent Examples on the Web

Their flowers in pale pink or white are an afterthought to the plethora of scents – peppermint, lemon, chocolate, nutmeg, apple, ginger, apricot, attar of roses, and cinnamon, among others – that their leaves transmit upon being rubbed or crushed. — Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 6 Mar. 2025

Take the attar trail in the town of Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, famous for the distilling of scents. — Condé Nast Traveller, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Mar. 2025

Also known as attars or absolutes, essential oils are made from fruits and plants. — Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025

Queen Charlotte had an entire room at Windsor Castle dedicated to her snuff collection, her favorite of which was named Violet Strasbourg, a blend mixed with bitter almonds, ambergris, and attar. — Lauren Puckett-Pope, Harper's BAZAAR, 5 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Persian ʽaṭir perfumed, from Arabic, from ʽiṭr perfume

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for attar

• atter
• batter
• blatter
• catarrh
• chatter
• clatter
• fatter
• flatter
• hatter
• latter
• matter
• natter

Kids Definition

attar

noun

at·​tar ˈat-ər 

ˈa-ˌtär

: a fragrant oil that comes from a plant (as the rose) and is used in perfumes or flavorings

also : fragrance

Medical Definition

attar

noun

at·​tar ˈat-ər  ˈa-ˌtär 

: a fragrant essential oil

especially : attar of roses