RE: The scent of Vanilla
I did use some cover scent this year! Last weekend we killed a buck very early, right at sunrise. Some of us hadn't even gone out yet (late night before and a full moon,) so we carefully gutted the buck before going out and his bladder was full. We all spread this on our boots before we set out.
Didn't see anything all weekend, but I blame that more on the full moon than the cover scent.