The self-styled "bacontrepreneurs" at J&D claim to have invented "the world's first bacon-scented shaving cream," but a Wisconsin-based shop has had something similar on the market for years.
"Yes, the world's first bacon-scented shaving cream. Prepare to be loved, admired and possibly eaten by bears," reads the press release for the new cream from the Seattle company known for its bacon lip-balm, bacon popcorn and bacon roses, to name a few.
But Mama Bear Soaps in Florence, Wis., was way ahead of the bacon trend, having offered a bacon-scented shaving soap since at least 2010.
"This smells just like fresh, maple-cured bacon right before you put it into the frying pan," the soap-maker boasts.
One co-owner of J&D, Justin Esch, backed down from the "world's first" claim when shown Mama's product.
"We'll go with: 'Bacon Shaving Cream is the highest quality meat-scented shaving cream on the market today," he said in an e-mail.
But his partner, Dave Lefkow, is sticking by their original claim.
"Bacon shaving soap is not bacon shaving cream, which delivers a luxuriously rich bacon lather. It's like comparing a Yugo to a Tesla or a deluxe ear-hair trimmer to a Q-Tip. Besides, who shaves with soap?" he said.
It appears a man named Adam Remillard does. In a review of the soap on Mama Bear's site, he wrote: "I do have to say, 5 stars for making it smell like real raw bacon."
"I am just a small business so don't have PR people and advertising funds to create a hype ... so I am not surprised someone else has," said Mama Bear owner Sue Clark.
But she bears the bacon tycoons no ill will.
"I say good for them," she said. "The bacon soap makes some of my customers very, very happy."
"Yes, the world's first bacon-scented shaving cream. Prepare to be loved, admired and possibly eaten by bears," reads the press release for the new cream from the Seattle company known for its bacon lip-balm, bacon popcorn and bacon roses, to name a few.
But Mama Bear Soaps in Florence, Wis., was way ahead of the bacon trend, having offered a bacon-scented shaving soap since at least 2010.
"This smells just like fresh, maple-cured bacon right before you put it into the frying pan," the soap-maker boasts.
One co-owner of J&D, Justin Esch, backed down from the "world's first" claim when shown Mama's product.
"We'll go with: 'Bacon Shaving Cream is the highest quality meat-scented shaving cream on the market today," he said in an e-mail.
But his partner, Dave Lefkow, is sticking by their original claim.
"Bacon shaving soap is not bacon shaving cream, which delivers a luxuriously rich bacon lather. It's like comparing a Yugo to a Tesla or a deluxe ear-hair trimmer to a Q-Tip. Besides, who shaves with soap?" he said.
It appears a man named Adam Remillard does. In a review of the soap on Mama Bear's site, he wrote: "I do have to say, 5 stars for making it smell like real raw bacon."
"I am just a small business so don't have PR people and advertising funds to create a hype ... so I am not surprised someone else has," said Mama Bear owner Sue Clark.
But she bears the bacon tycoons no ill will.
"I say good for them," she said. "The bacon soap makes some of my customers very, very happy."
