The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word BALMIEST
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
B
A
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M
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "aromatic in the extreme" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case aromatic in the extreme = balmiest.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BALMIEST mean?
BALMIEST adjective- Producing balm.
- Soothing or fragrant.
- Mild and pleasant.
- Foolish; slightly crazy or mad; eccentric.