ἄρωμα <Unspecified origin; Classical period>
👉 ἄρωμα [⏑-⏑], -ατος n. – ‘a fragrant spice’ (Xen., Anab. 1.5.1; Plb. 13.9.5; etc.).
⚠ PME 12: [...] γίνεται δὲ τὰ ἐν αὐτῷ [scil. τῷ ᾿Αρωμάτων ἐμπορίῳ] κασία καὶ γίζειρ καὶ ἀσύφη καὶ ἄρωμα καὶ μάγλα καὶ μοτὼ καὶ λίβανος. – “Its [scil. of the Spice Port situated near the Cape Guardafui in Somalia] products are: cassia, gizeir, asyphe, arōma, magla, motō, frankincense.” (trans. L. Casson); PME 13: [...] τὸ δὲ πλεῖστον ἐν αὐτῇ (scil. Ὀπώνῃ) γεννᾶται κασσία καὶ ἄρωμα καὶ μοτὼ καὶ δουλικὰ κρείσσονα [...] καὶ χελώνη πλείστη καὶ διαφορωτέρα τῆς ἄλλης. – “Its (scil. of Opōnē/Hafun in Somalia) products for the most part are: cassia; arōma; motō; better-quality slaves [...]; tortoise shell in great quantity and finer than any other.” (trans. L. Casson); see also Plb. 13.9.5.
🅔 Perhaps a foreign word Hellenised under the influence of nouns with the suffix -μα. Cf. some less probable Oriental counterparts previously suggested: 1. Old South Arabian ḥrmt with uncertain meaning in an inscription found in the Sirwah District in Yemen (according to one view, it is a substance burnt on the altar; however, it is more often interpreted as ‘procession’ or ‘sanctuary’); 2. Akkadian armannu(m) ‘branch used as drug; kernel used as perfume’.
📖 Ref.: cf. Bukharin 2012: 186; EDG: 146; Schmeja 1968: 133; W.W. Müller 1978: 442.