Stink about to permeate shoe (7)
I believe the answer is:
scandal
'stink' is the definition.
(stink can mean a scandal or controversy)
'about to permeate shoe' is the wordplay.
'about' becomes 'c' (abbreviation for 'circa').
'to permeate' means one lot of letters goes inside another (permeate means to go into or fill).
'shoe' becomes 'sandal' (sandal is a kind of shoe).
'c' inserted inside 'sandal' is 'SCANDAL'.
(Other definitions for scandal that I've seen before include "Outrageous event" , "content of 3 [RED TOPS]?" , "Malicious talk; outrage" , "something injurious to one's reputation" , "Disgraceful event" .)