I usually get a negative answer on this question, but let's have a poll. :p
It seems very basic to me. You have a plate with warm food. You get close to it and sniff and inhale the warm air it gives out. You realize it's been warmed up without having to touch it, just by using your nose. Hence, it smells warm!
I've been corrected on it a number of times, though. The usual argument is "warmth is not a smell". I agree with that, buuuuuuuut see above paragraph!
I think I may sometime exercise my right to use it as a "quirky turn of phrase" or something. We can't all write the same things, yanno.
