Spraying perfume on the neck is almost second nature for many people.
But after a friend was diagnosed with lymphoma, a Malaysian man said he stopped doing it entirely.
His post quickly sparked a wave of reactions from netizens, with some sharing similar fears and personal experiences, while others pushed back against linking fragrance use to cancer.
In his social media post, the man recalled how his friend used to spray perfume on his neck daily and appeared healthy for years.
My friend loved spraying perfume on his neck every day. He looked fine. Until one day, he was diagnosed with lymphoma,” he wrote.
He stressed that he was not directly blaming perfume for the illness, but said the diagnosis made him more aware of how the body works.
I’m not saying perfume caused it. But that was when we realised the neck has lymph glands, which act as filters for the body. Since that day, I stopped spraying perfume there.”
Netizens urge caution over fragrance and chemical exposure
The post resonated with many netizens, some of whom shared concerns about long-term exposure to fragrances found in perfumes, detergents, air fresheners, and cleaning products.
One commenter encouraged moderation rather than excess.
“Avoid too much perfume. Even washing clothes doesn’t need to smell strong enough for seven generations. As long as it’s clean, that’s enough. Dishwashing liquid also doesn’t need to foam excessively. A clean home will naturally smell fresh.”
They added that hormonal effects from chemicals are often underestimated.
“Hormone disruption is real. Too many people take it lightly.”
Former perfume retail worker shares wife’s experience
Another netizen shared a personal story involving his wife, who previously worked selling perfumes for a major brand at shopping malls.
“My wife developed an illness after working for a big perfume brand. In less than a year, her neck started swelling.”
According to him, medical checks later suggested that repeated exposure to perfume sprayed directly onto the body may have affected her health.
“The ‘expensive branded’ perfume she sprayed on her neck contained hormone-disrupting substances. Staff were required to spray a lot on themselves to attract customers.”
He added that his wife has since stopped working in the industry, and they now avoid buying perfumes altogether.
“After that, we don’t dare to buy perfume anymore, whether cheap or expensive.”
Others caution against oversimplifying cancer causes
However, not all netizens agreed with associating perfume use with cancer.
One commenter who shared his own battle with lymphoma warned against drawing direct links.
“There’s no connection. I never sprayed anything on my neck, but I still developed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, stage two. After two years, it progressed to stage four.”
He explained that lymphoma is a blood cancer and that lymph nodes can be affected regardless of perfume use.
“Lymph nodes are also in the armpits and groin. Some cancers can spread to them. I hope those who are sick recover fully. No more relapse.”
Another netizen shared a family experience that echoed the complexity of cancer.
“My sister had CNS lymphoma. There’s no cancer history in our family. She loved makeup and perfume, but it’s not that simple to say these are the cause.”
Discussion around endocrine disruptors resurfaces
Despite differing opinions, several netizens pointed to growing awareness around endocrine disruptors, chemicals often discussed in relation to fragrance products.
“Anything with ‘parfum’ or ‘perfume’ is better avoided because it can disrupt hormones.”
Another commenter mentioned specific ingredients commonly highlighted in public discussions.
“Fragrances with ingredients like styrene and phthalates are more linked to hormone disruption. Examples include air fresheners, car perfumes, fabric softeners, and cheaper perfumes.”
They noted that hormone disruption has been associated with issues such as early puberty or irregular menstrual cycles, though they did not claim a direct link to cancer.
Some share milder reactions and practical advice
Others shared less severe but noticeable reactions to perfume use.
“I used to spray perfume on my neck until one day it became red and itchy, especially when sweating. I stopped and it went away.”
Several commenters echoed simple precautionary advice.
“Never spray perfume directly onto the skin.”
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