Oh, I can definitely say that the sense of smell is quite powerful for me. Not only do smells trigger deep memories, and immediate feelings in me, I am also very sensitive to odors that are too strong (that others don't especially notice), or that are somewhat "off" to my mind.

This is one reason why I am very picky about perfumes. It's probably a combination of my smell sensitivity, and my strange body chemistry, but perfumes that start out being just fine can really turn on me, or become so overwhelming to my sensitive nose that I'm forced to shower them off.

I tend to sniff meat and fish a lot too! Can't tell you how many times I've sent my husband back to the grocery store with meat that doesn't smell quite up to, well...snuff...to me that smells perfectly fine to my husband.

For me, the scents that soothe me are:

vanilla
cinnamon
honeysuckle
lavender
lilac
the ocean
coffee
hot tea
bacon
warm, melted chocolate
yeast (separate, or when in a dough)
freshly-cut grass
pine
damp earth
warm earth
a crackling fire, indoors or out
the scent left on one's fingers from touching a tomato vine
the way my dog's fur smells when my face is buried in her fluffy neck

I'm sure that I've forgotten a whole bunch!