From selling cologne to making music: JahFragrance shares his story

Before he began introducing himself as JahFragrance, Roger Grant was making a living selling cologne. His customers had their own ideas about what to call him, too, offering up names that would eventually help shape the identity he carries today as a Jamaican singer. What began as a familiar name in the fragrance business has since taken on a new meaning, as Grant channels his experiences into music and promotes his latest single, Girl. “It’s an extension of an old name I went by, Jah Scent. My customers called me Fragrance or Fresh A Scent, so I did a play on them both,” he explained. For JahFragrance, however, the journey into music began long before the name took shape. Raised off St John’s Road in St Catherine, he grew up in an environment where music was woven into everyday life, describing it as “the heartbeat of the town”. Still, a deep-rooted love for music did not guarantee an easy path towards pursuing it professionally. JahFragrance said resistance to his musical ambitions became a source of frustration and ultimately helped influence his decision to relocate to the United States. The move has since afforded him the financial means to invest in his craft, while his children have become a powerful source of motivation. For him, the pursuit is about more than simply putting songs into the world; it is also about making the most of what he believes he has to offer and creating something his children can one day appreciate. “I had so much pushback in Jamaica,” he said. “Now, so that my kids will have this for them, [I want] to get everything that is inside of me out to the people.” That desire to give his music room to breathe is reflected in Girl, released on August 7, 2026. The single began with a beat supplied by DJ Khago, but when Khago was not satisfied with the result, JahFragrance took a different route, enlisting another composer to build the music around his lyrics. In the process, the song became a meeting point between his present ambitions and a memory from childhood. Its “give me tha” refrain traces back to a song his older brother would regularly ask him to sing, a piece of the past that has now found its way into his own musical offering. “It has always been there waiting to come out,” he said. JahFragrance wrote Girl, which was produced by YZR Entertainment Inc, the corporation he established with his wife to retain the rights to his music. The track was recorded at Dream Machine. Early feedback has been encouraging, with the singer reporting positive responses from listeners and airplay on stations including IRIE FM and Best FM. A music video, shot in Jamaica by Bloozick Filmwork, is also expected to be released soon, offering another visual dimension to the single. Looking ahead, JahFragrance is preparing an EP for mid-2027. He hopes the project will explore songs with greater depth while holding on to the uplifting spirit he wants listeners to associate with his music. It is an ambition that speaks to the wider purpose behind his journey: to use music not only as an outlet for his creativity, but also as a means of connecting with and encouraging others. “I hope to bring inspiration, positivity and love to everyone who listens to my music,” he said.