Hundreds of scent manufacturers (5)
I believe the answer is:
cents
'hundreds' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both quantities as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'scent manufacturers' is the wordplay.
'scent' anagrams to 'CENTS'.
But, I'm not clear how this is indicated.
'of' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cents that I've seen before include "Fractions of dollar" , "US money, e.g." , "Hundredths of dollar" , "American coins" , "money abroad" .)