Crossword Genius

Scent variable rate worse (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rosewater

'scent' is the definition.
(scented water)

'variable rate worse' is the wordplay.
'variable' is an anagram indicator (a varied form of the letters).
'rate'+'worse'='rateworse'
'rateworse' is an anagram of 'ROSEWATER'.

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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