A French man carries Uniform? That's topical! (7)

I believe the answer is:

unguent

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'that's topical' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'a french man carries uniform?' is the wordplay.
'a french' becomes 'un' ('a' in French).
'man' becomes 'gent' (gent is a kind of man).
'carries' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters carried inside).
'uniform?' becomes 'U' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'gent' enclosing 'u' is 'guent'.
'un'+'guent'='UNGUENT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for unguent that I've seen before include "Greasy ointment" , "Ointment, soothing salve" , "Lotion" , "An ointment or lubricant" , "Oily substance" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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