Q1 

Yes! It appears so. Makes sense. The inhalation and pleasure of smelling perfume presumably distracts and mimics aspects of vaping and smoking.  

The title of the published research is  'Pleasant olfactory clues can reduce cigarette craving'

•  the research paper https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6529945/
•  a simpler article explaining the research in a popular science magazine https://www.popsci.com/scent-quit-smoking/

(Photo source: Wikipedia - no more specific ref cited)

Q2

ACT leader David Seymour, pre-election on a TV panel, suggested putting vapes in alcohol outlets. Ayesha Verrall agreed at the time that it was an interesting idea. 

ACT post election messaging is, on their simple online vape material, to have more vape ads and more availability of all the flavours, and it refers to a 'non - existent youth vaping epidemic'! 

I wonder if main ACT vape policy advisers have spoken to a teenager recently, or checked out clinical advice, or read a paper or heard on radio or elsewhere secondary school principals worries and frustrations.

It looks like National getting vapes into pharmacies may need some other cross party support unless ACT get some 'good advice'..  National should be able to get backing for tougher regulations from other MPs given many on the left and right want these, and despair at the real youth epidemic.