Firmly joins me in scent production (7)

I believe the answer is:

cements

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'firmly joins' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'me in scent production' is the wordplay.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'production' indicates an anagram.
'scent' with letters rearranged gives 'cents'.
'me' inserted into 'cents' is 'CEMENTS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for cements that I've seen is " Makes concrete".)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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