The following confirms that you're impression is correct 
package a;
sub DESTROY{print "hash destroyed\n"};
$b=bless {a=> 1}, "a";
$c=\$b->{a};
$b=undef;
print "still holding a reference to $$c\n";

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In reply to Re: Query on refcounting with container objects by fergal
in thread Query on refcounting with container objects by calin

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