Scalar control is open loop, no feedback. You select a speed, the drive outputs a V/Hz ratio necessary to facilitate it but has no idea if that worked.
Vector control looks at feedback from the motor to let the drive know the effects and alters the output to improve performance by controlling the vectorial relationship between voltage and frequency.
The applications for vector control are when you need the better performance. Specific would need to be related to the specifics of your application.
__________________
** All I every really wanted to be, was... A LUMBERJACK!.**