The Inspirational Power of Happy Chap Shave Company - An Interview with Founder Kyle Olson

Happy Chap

Happy Chap is a little over one year old and has already made a big splash in the world of wet shaving. Its first scent, Oak + Leather, launched in Fall 2024 to critical acclaim, followed by a rapid succession of hits including Smoke + Carmel, Los Angeles, and its latest Vanilla + Vetiver. Everything about the brand feels fresh, including its young founder Kyle Olson, a renaissance man who has harnessed his entrepreneurial spirit, knowledge of chemistry, and passion for wet shaving, to create something genuinely distinctive. The message behind the brand is simple...to inspire and empower men to be their best as they tackle their roles as husbands, fathers, brothers, and friends. As the name says, to make them Happy Chaps. Its gone from a standing start to running in the lead pack of artisan brands, and the future looks blindingly bright. ShaveSplash had the opportunity to catch up with Kyle and learn a little about his journey. Here’s Kyle…

Could you tell us a bit about your background and how you came to wet shaving prior to creating Happy Chap?

I am originally from Southeast Idaho. I currently live in Southern California with my beautiful wife and our cute Whoodle puppy. I am a man of many interests; I love producing music, being in nature, reading, and cooking.

When I first started shaving, I tried using cartridge razors and didn't have a great experience, so I switched to an electric razor. About three years ago, I wasn't loving my electric razor and wanted a closer shave. My mother-in-law gifted me a Supply Single Blade which then led me to buy the Merkur 34c. Around this same time, I met my good friend Drew Chu, a veteran wet shaver. He set me up with a Semogue boar brush and way too many blades to try. After that I was hooked into the wet shaving universe.

When did you realize you wanted to take your wet shaving passion a step further and try your hand at commercially producing grooming products? Do you have a second career, or is Happy Chap now a full time focus?

I love entrepreneurship, and I have run a few businesses in the past. My dad is a chemist, and I have always had a natural inclination towards chemistry. At the start of my wet shaving journey, I started researching the chemistry behind soap making. After a year of testing formulas that eventually led to my current base formula, I knew I was onto something good and decided to start sharing my products with the wet shaving community. The rest is history!

I also work full-time as a data strategist at a start-up construction lending firm.

The way you compose and blend your fragrances suggests a deep familiarity with scent and a level of expertise typically associated with professional perfumers. Do you have a formal background in the fragrance industry, and how did you develop your skills and design philosophy as a perfumer?

There are very few things I outsource in my business, but my fragrance is one of them. I am passionate about the soap and aftershave formulation, but unfortunately I don't have a lifetime of scent experience. I am extremely blessed to work with a professional perfumer who has a lifetime of valuable perfume experience. My goal is to produce the highest quality artisan products possible and working with an expert perfumer allows me to accomplish that goal.

If I’m not mistaken, your first two releases were Oak + Leather, in a Mossy Woods style, and Smoke + Caramel, which leans toward an Amber Gourmand profile. What drew you to these particular themes for the launch of Happy Chap, and where did you find the initial inspiration for those scents?

Yes, OAK+LEATHER and SMOKE+CARAMEL were the first two scents Happy Chap released. I tend to release new scents according to the season. OAK+LEATHER was released in Fall 2024 and SMOKE+CARAMEL was released in Winter 2024.

I wanted OAK+LEATHER (my first scent) to be symbolic of where Happy Chap Started. Where I live in California is covered in beautiful oak trees, so I wanted the scent to capture that feeling of home.

You followed up in early 2025 with Los Angeles, released in the aftermath of the large fire, and it quickly became a favorite among many shavers. How did you go about assembling the notes for that fragrance, and what was your goal with that composition?

First, I would like to say that my heart goes out to all who were affected by the January 2025 Southern California wildfires. Thank you to the first responders who worked to protect our community.

All of the proceeds from LOS ANGELES were donated to fire relief efforts, so I wanted the fragrance to embody Los Angeles. I spend a lot of time at the beach, so I wanted the scent to capture the natural, raw vibes of the Pacific Ocean.

The collection now includes nine fragrances, although my understanding is that Los Angeles may have been a limited run. Is there one fragrance you’re especially proud of, and is there a particular scent you would recommend as a starting point for someone who is new to Happy Chap?

VANILLA+VETIVER is my favorite scent right now. My professional scent tester (AKA my wife) thinks that VANILLA+VETIVER is Happy Chap's best scent yet. It's a really unique blend because vanilla is typically sweet, but this scent moves the vanilla into a more bitter note. You really can't go wrong with any of the scents.

For someone new to Happy Chap, probably don't start with FIRE+HICKORY because it's very smokey and smells just like a barbeque, haha.

Truthfully, I take great pride in all of the Happy Chap scents. I don't sell anything that I don't use myself. Additionally, all of the scents are approved by a committee (AKA my wife).

I’ve been using Pine + Clementine and in addition to the fabulous scent really enjoy the soap base, its rich lather, and well-hydrated post-shave feel. Your soaps are tallow-based and incorporate butters such as kokum and mango, along with jojoba oil and even hydrolyzed silk. When you design a shave soap, what qualities are you looking for in the lather and overall experience, and how do you personally define a “good” soap base?

Here are my top three shave soap qualities:

1. Ultra Slippery - I blind tested different ingredients to boost slip and nothing beat the glycerin and hydrolyzed silk combo.

2. Quick and Easy Lather - Most people have a very limited time to shave, so building a lather should be quick.

3. Sturdy Cushion - When I shave, I want my skin to be comfortable and protected.

   
   

Happy Chap shave soap has all three of these qualities!

Your aftershaves use a classic foundation built around alcohol, witch hazel, jojoba oil, and glycerin, but you also include hydrolyzed wheat protein, which is a less common addition. What led you to incorporate that ingredient, and more broadly, what is your philosophy on what makes a well-balanced, effective aftershave splash?

Funny Story - Originally, I thought that hydrolyzed wheat protein added extra hydration. After doing blind testing, I found that it didn't make any significant difference in post-shave skin hydration. The older scents still have hydrolyzed wheat protein, but the newer scents do not.

Many readers will be curious about the story behind the name “Happy Chap.” How did you arrive at that name, and what message or feeling do you hope the brand conveys to people who use your products?

At the start of the business, I went through a few iterations of names. I wanted the name to be catchy but also have a deeper meaning. Happy Chap truly embodies our mission to inspire the modern man to fulfill his role as a husband, father, brother, and friend by providing him with the highest quality shaving goods. Our goal is to make you a happy chap!

Looking ahead over the next year or so, what are your plans for Happy Chap?

How would you like to see the brand and product line evolve, and are there any upcoming releases or projects you can hint at for our readers?

My plan is to keep providing high quality products with unique scents to the wet shaving community! Happy Chap plans to collaborate with international partners in the near future. There are also a couple new products in the works for 2026.

Hint: Look out for a new scent with notes of Black Cherry, Leather, and Incense coming in 2026

To close, is there one message, insight, or fact about you or Happy Chap that we haven’t covered yet, but that you would particularly like readers to know?

Every Happy Chap product is made by hand in small batches in my garage. Happy Chap will never sacrifice quality for convenience and neither should you. Thank you to everyone who has supported the business thus far. It makes a difference in real people's lives when you shop small. THANK YOU!

Kyle Olson, his lovely wife, and adorable Whoodle.

Visit Happy Chap to learn more.