WE all have that one friend who bathes in perfume before leaving the house, neck included, and we have learned to just wind down the car window.
But a viral TikTok post has given perfume lovers everywhere a reason to pause mid-spritz, claiming that spritzing fragrance on your neck could cause lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
Can spraying perfume on your neck really give you lymphoma?
Verdict:
FALSE
Spraying perfume on your neck does not cause lymphoma, according to a fact-check by MyCheck.my, which found the viral claim to be misleading and unsupported by any scientific evidence.
The claim originated from a TikTok post by user ina_molekulimun, who wrote that her friend had been diagnosed with lymphoma after years of spraying perfume on her neck daily, and suggested the neck's lymph nodes, which function as filters for the body, may have been responsible.
"My friend liked to spray perfume on her neck every day. She looked healthy. Then one day she was diagnosed with lymphoma. I'm not blaming the perfume. It was only then that we learned the neck has lymph nodes, which filter the body. Since that day, I swore off spraying there," she wrote.
Many netizens pushed back in the comments, with some sharing that they had been diagnosed with lymphoma despite never spraying perfume on their necks, undermining the suggestion of a direct link.
To understand the claim better, MyCheck.my consulted the Health Ministry's e-magazine MyHealth September 2025 edition, which described lymphoma as a type of blood cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, a network of vessels and nodes that support the body's immune defences.
The cancer occurs when lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, multiply uncontrollably and can affect the immune system.
Known risk factors for lymphoma include age, a weakened immune system such as in HIV/AIDS patients, infection with certain viruses and long-term exposure to industrial-level chemicals such as industrial solvents, not everyday consumer products like perfume.
The Health Ministry's National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) told MyCheck.my that to date, there was no evidence or reports linking perfume use to cancer risk, specifically lymphoma.
The NPRA noted that while some studies had suggested possible links between certain fragrance ingredients and health effects such as skin irritation, allergic reactions, reproductive issues or endocrine disruption, other studies found those links could not be proven.
It added that the level of exposure to chemicals in perfume through normal use was too low to show any significant increase in health risk.
The NPRA also confirmed that no serious adverse effect reports linked to the use of notified perfume products had been received by the ministry.
Perfume is regulated in Malaysia as a cosmetic product under the Guidelines for Control of Cosmetic Products in Malaysia, which aligns with the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, and must be notified with the NPRA before it can be sold.
Companies are responsible for ensuring their products are of quality, safe for use and do not endanger human health when used normally, and all notified cosmetics are subject to ongoing post-market surveillance.
TikTok doctor Dr Alya Zulfa also weighed in, explaining that the claim was not supported by medical evidence, as lymphoma is a cancer involving the entire immune system and is not caused by perfume.
She noted that fragrance ingredients are tested and regulated by bodies such as the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) at very low and safe doses.
Associate Professor Ts Dr Razinah Sharif, deputy president of the Malaysian Toxicology Association and one of only four globally recognised toxicologists in Malaysia, told MyCheck.my that based on a review of existing studies, the claim was misleading and not backed by scientific evidence.
"Perfume may typically cause skin irritation due to its chemical composition, but it does not go as far as causing lymphoma," she said.
She added that before any substance could be linked to cancer, the process of carcinogenesis needed to be clearly understood, and health claims should not be made without a solid scientific basis.
Dr Razinah noted that health issues sometimes associated with fragrance products were limited to allergies or dermatitis, skin irritation, sensitivity to fragrance ingredients and in some cases, respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals.
The public is advised to stop using any cosmetic product if they experience an unwanted reaction, seek professional health advice if necessary and report the incident to the NPRA.
References:
2. https://infosihat.moh.gov.my/
3. https://www.tiktok.com/@ina_molekulimun/photo/7588759519400922389?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
4. https://www.tiktok.com/@dralyazulfa/video/7591060786269801748?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
