Using Adult Perfume on Teens Could Trigger Thyroid Disorders, Is It True?

The use of adult perfume among children and adolescents has come under scrutiny. The phenomenon has sparked new concerns among parents, particularly about the safety of using adult perfumes on children. One of the widely discussed issues is the suspicion that adult perfumes can trigger hormonal disturbances and even affect thyroid function. Dr. Arifin Kurniawan Kashmir, SpA., M.Kes., CHt., FISQua, Deputy Chair of the Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI) in Banten, said that occasional perfume use does not automatically trigger thyroid disorders in adolescents. “Actually there is not yet strong evidence that simply applying perfume on the neck occasionally directly causes diseases in children that affect the thyroid,” Dr. Arifin said in an interview with Kompas.com on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. Nevertheless, he says concerns about certain ingredients in perfumes still need to be considered, especially if products are used long-term and in excess. According to Dr. Arifin, several studies have indeed highlighted the presence of phthalates in fragrance products. The compounds belong to the group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals or EDCs that are suspected of affecting the body’s hormonal system. “There is a journal stating that phthalates are present in some fragrance products including in the group referred to as endocrine-disrupting chemicals or EDCs,” he said. EDCs are chemicals that can disrupt the functioning of natural hormones in the body. Therefore, these substances are a focus in various health studies, including in children and adolescents who are still growing. “A study in children shows that the use of personal care products related to the level of phthalate metabolites, including replacement compounds, are detectable in urine,” he said. Nevertheless, the presence of these substances does not automatically mean a child will immediately experience health problems if only occasionally using perfume. Furthermore, Dr. Arifin emphasised that effects on hormonal function or thyroid do not occur instantly due to a single use of perfume. The risks are more related to long-term usage patterns, frequency of use, and high exposure to certain substances.