Bass don't 'smell' baitfish like a catfish does because they have fewer taste receptors. Catfish are basically a big tongue and can detect things like shad, liver, blood, etc., from a long way and then find it.
Bass do have taste receptors in their mouth, though, so when they clamp a shad or a lure that may have something like anise or added attractant, they may hold on to it a bit longer.
I talked with one of the chemists-researchers from Pure Fishing about this years ago. The attractants in lures mostly are to attract anglers - marketing - although they do have some benefit, if the bass likes it, after the bass bites.
IMO adding some kind of attractant or having artificial lures (plastics, skirts) with scent in them doesn't hurt, though.
Also, the Rage Craw is the bomb. Great bait.