I think the scent it's self can represent a partial advantage to or disadventage. However, I believe that there is a bigger advantage to scents for swimbaits then the scent it's self and definitely may make a bait (swimbait) more appealing. The first thing that comes to my mind is the fact that almost any type of live bait all share a common characteristic, weather it be a bait fish shad, trout,shinners, crawdads, or even ive worms they all posses a thin layer of slime that coats their bodies. Scent adds this layer to an artifical bait. It makes your bait shine making your bait appear to be more natural and when it strikes your lure it also feels like a natural bait. I believe it makes them hold it longer in there mouth. It also seems to lube the bait helping to make it slide in to their mouth. With any luck it slides in and doesn't slide out. If the fish are in an active feeding pattern I don't think it matters as much. I have seen scents make the difference in saltwater when fishing saltwater with swimbaits during this time of year.