Charles Ellicott Commentary Ecclesiastes 7:1

"A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one`s birth." — Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ASV)

There is a play on words in the original (found also in Song of Solomon 1:3), which Plumptre represents by “a good name is better than good nard.” It was probably an older proverb, which the Preacher completes by the startling addition, and so is the day of death better than that of birth. For the use of perfumes, see Ruth 3:3; 2 Samuel 12:20; Proverbs 7:17; Daniel 10:3.