That scents can influence our mood is nothing new. They have a very direct effect on our emotional center, and this also applies to your cat(s). However, cats do have different scent preferences than humans, and it's common knowledge that cats love the scent of catnip, matatabi, and valerian.
Aside from the scent of catnip, which almost no house tiger can resist, every cat has its own highly individual taste. What one cat finds a delightful scent, another finds rather unpleasant. Especially with sick or recovering cats, you should be careful not to expose them to a scent they find very unpleasant. Therefore, test your cat when they are healthy. The best way to do this is with scented pads.