About us

Hillside Groom Company was born from the desire to do something with Passion. To do something you love and can be proud of. After nearly 20 years of working in the construction industry, Eric Ortner, the founder of Hillside Groom Company needed more. Construction had become a job, and he needed something he could be excited to wake up for every day.

Eric started his journey in formulating back in 2016 when his then wife brought home a $20 bar of soap. Being sensible but curious, he set out to discover how soap was made. What began as an attempt to be frugal turned out to be a mad scientist approach to figure out how everything we use to look good and smell good was made. It’s to the point that no product can be around without the urge to turn it over, read the ingredients and see what makes it work.

One thing that this inquisitiveness has really opened his eyes to are the rampant marketing lies within the cosmetic, skin care and haircare industry. Many companies make wild claims and model their products after marketing buzzwords. Many will claim to be organic yet don’t have certification. They claim to be “all natural” but use crazy chemicals and harsh detergents. How are you going to claim to be all natural and organic but the first ingredients in your product are petrolatum and silicone? These companies are either ignorant to their scientist’s ingredient choices or they think their customers are stupid.

We will promise you this, the only thing we will claim is to be a No Bullshit company. We make products that work. All our recipes are tried, tested and true to their name. All our ingredients are registered with Health Canada. We will never release a product unless we would and have used it ourselves. Once a product is created it first gets tested on Eric and only once he approves does it then go on to several months of vigorous testing with only the most discerning grooming aficionados.

We are a Workingman’s Brand for those who still want to look good and smell good no matter if they are swinging hammers, spinning wrenches, clacking on a keyboard, out for a rip or out on the town. If you are someone who works hard, plays hard then we’ve got you covered and have a product for you.

He who works with his hands is a laborer.
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.
He who works with his hands, his head and his heart is an artist.

― Saint Francis of Assisi