Scent variable rate worse (9)
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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