Scent carried almost overcomes one abandoned child (4)
I believe the answer is:
waif
'abandoned child' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for waif that I've seen before include "Someone very thin or underfed" , "An unowned or abandoned child" , "Orphan" , "Neglected, homeless child" , "Homeless child - thin person" .)