What Does "Choke Out" Mean in Fragrance Slang?

Sometimes in the world of fragrance, you'll see people talk about being "choked out" by a perfume or cologne. And as with any passionate community, asking for a definition on Reddit might get you snobby responses that don't answer the question. (We've all been there!)

The Definition of "Choking Out" in Perfume

So what does it mean? The definition is actually very simple! A fragrance that "chokes someone out" would be one that's too strong, overwhelming, pungent, etc. This could be from a perfume being over-sprayed or having too much projection. It could also be about a scent profile itself smelling disturbing.

Examples of using it in a sentence:

• "Maybe I should stick to 2 sprays; I don't want to choke anyone out."
• "When I was at the store someone was wearing a cologne that was choking me out. Yuck!"
• "That seems like the type of perfume that smells good on paper but would choke people out when sprayed."

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