Nick Jonas Says His New JVXNJ Fragrance Will Make You Smell Like the Most Handsome Man in the Room
Three days before I met with Nick Jonas, he was serenading his (maybe, probably) fiancée, Priyanka Chopra, (as well as thousands of others) in Singapore. But taking a look at his skin — which truly glowed from the inside out — you'd never be able to tell he was jet-lagged and exhausted from his whirlwind summer, which has included getting engaged; touring; traveling to London, India, and everywhere in between; and launching a new (and his first) fragrance, a collaboration with John Varvatos.
Jonas admits that his new fragrance, released earlier this summer, was inspired by a lengthy list of big cities — and born, he says, over a bottle of tequila. "I think New York is somewhere that [John] and I really connected on," he said. "I live between here and L.A., and the energy of the city is so inspiring. We also spent some time in Paris together and [in] London, which are two of the most inspiring cities to me, especially Paris as far as fashion goes and grooming in general. We also went to Cuba together recently for this film project and got the chance to eat and drink and take it all in again. I think travel is such an essential piece to my lifestyle that it makes sense it became a part of me and John's creative life together. Hopefully, this [fragrance] is a reflection of that — it feels like it can be a worldview."
That worldview scent, JVXNJ Fragrance ($94), is decidedly more grown-up and, as Jonas says, "versatile." The scent features cool and clean top notes of mandarin and kaffir lime leaves and pink pepper spices; heart notes of sage, rosemary, and lavender; and "comforting" base notes of sandalwood.
Jonas adds that his and Varvatos's goal for the fragrance was developing something for the guy "on the go." "Whether it's an event, a black-tie event, a show, a night out with friends...something that will suit any of those environments and become a part of my identity." It's a concept he learned from his grandfather, whom he credits for his first memory of cologne.
"I always remember his scent, his fragrance entering the room before he did," Jonas says. "He was sort of this off-the-wall, zany, fun-loving character, but his scent was really refined and it was a nice juxtaposition. There's so much you can do with a fragrance, so much you can say about yourself."
The singer's go-to for keeping his complexion intact amid so much time spent in planes, trains, and automobiles: sunscreen. "A lot of guys overlook it, but it will help keep your skin looking fresh and clear, for sure," he advises. Jonas attributes his loyalty to sun protection to the time he spends snowboarding in winter and his bicoastal life between Los Angeles and New York.
His secret to avoiding under-eye circles, which might indicate some long nights (fans did catch him canoodling Chopra at a night club well past midnight)? Kiehl's Eye Fuel. "It's a great product that I like, which helps me look more alert and awake," Jonas explains.
But it took a few years of trial and error to discover the Kiehl's mainstay. "I've tried many different things when it comes to making my eyes look more alert when I was younger," he said, adding, "I would try different tricks like taking a coffee cup and putting it beneath my eyes to open them up, which doesn't really work, so I wouldn't try that." (While Jonas was onto something with the caffeine jolt to keep his skin alert, the hot cup of joe won't do much to smooth and shrink bags.)
So it's no surprise that just a day or two after our chat, Jonas had jetted off to Miami, sharing pics from his brother's birthday party — without a dark eye circle in sight and smelling like, I assume, the best guy in the club.
Other ways to smell handsomely:
Here's What One French Perfumer Has to Say About Women Wearing Men's Fragrances
Strong Sexy Fragrances That Are Basically Unbridled Loins in a Bottle
And now, a pep talk from Priyanka Chopra:
