The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word AROMATISE
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
A
R
O
M
A
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More clues leading to the result AROMATISE
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Scent" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case scent = aromatise.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 AROMATISE mean?
AROMATISE verb- To make aromatic, fragrant, or spicy.
- To convert into an aromatic compound by means of a chemical reaction.