The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word DOUCEUR
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
D
O
U
C
E
U
R
Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DOUCEUR mean?
DOUCEUR noun- Sweetness of manner: agreeableness, gentleness.
- Sweet speech: a compliment.
- A sweetener: a gift offered to sweeten another's attitude, a tip or bribe.
- A tax break provided as an inducement to sell valuable items (especially art) to public collections rather than on the open market.