I got a few products from bearscents.com last year. I think they are here in WI. Their web site has details & testimonials. I got 2 'scent balls' in Berry scent and some spray bottles of 'berry' & 'bacon' for misting. The scent balls look & weight like a bowling ball sort of. They give off copious amounts of scent, I could smell it in the stand. I got berry because they were out of bacon. I had 2 bait piles & tried to hang them as out of reach as possible. The 1st I didn't have a real good option and after about 2 weeks the bears hauled it off in the swamp to lick no doubt. The bear lollypop my partner called it. The ball has an I bolt in it for hanging. The 2nd I hung it well & it slowly dripped down with any moisture. It lasted at least 3 weeks+, it was still going & the size of a baseball when we took the stand down. We used the spray off & on at times. It gives the area a very inviting smell.
I think the ball would be good for the guy that can't service the pile every other day or so as you get it going with bears coming in. It would help keep them interested if the good food was gone. If you have a good spot & keep the pile serviced well I don't think either matter that much. Since it was my 1st time I wanted to go all out. Yes I did get a bear 2P.M. opening day, but I think the bears liked our pile reguardless of the ball & spray.