Smell returning to woollen garments (5)
I believe the answer is:
knits
'woollen garments' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'smell returning' is the wordplay.
'smell' becomes 'stink' (stinking is a kind of smelling).
'returning' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'stink' backwards is 'KNITS'.
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for knits that I've seen before include "Stitches" , "Purses" , "Works with needles and wool" , "Unites" .)