Kogman & Keisie Organic Farm is nestled on the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, with the Keisie River bubbling along its boundary. This is home to Fijn Botanicals natural body, sensitive skin and home products, which is made with natural, plant-derived ingredients and fynbos essential oils.
The products are created by Liana Jansen in her farm workshop. The range started off as products for the Kogman and Keisie Guesthouse. All its grey water drains into the gardens and the guesthouse needed products that will nurture the health of their guests and not harm the soil. Fijn Botanicals use no chemicals that are detrimental to human and environmental health:
- No Petroleum and petrochemical derived ingredients
- No Artificial and synthetic fragrances
- No Artificial and synthetic colours
- No Propylene glycol, No Mineral oils, No Parabens
- No Animal testing.
- 100% Bio-degradable
All the products contain pure and highly concentrated fynbos essential oils from the Langeberg area, Cederberg Mountains and the Kouga Valley.
Our products are named after the Khoekhoe words for either our local landscape features or specific aspects that the scent evokes. It is our way to pay homage to the original inhabitants of the landscape of Montagu. The Khoekhoe people (pronounced kwê- kwê, as in question), had an unmatched knowledge of the veld they lived in – both as a source of food and of medicinal plants used for healing.
“Kogman and Keisie” refers to the Cogmanskloof and Mountain directly adjacent to the farm. The name is derived from the name of a former Khoekhoe leader, Cochob, a name that means “narrow cheeks”. The people led by Cochob were known as the Cochoqua. The Cochoqua were one of the most influential Khoekhoe groups, living in two clans under separate chiefs and numbering about 20 000 people. The Cochoqua were settled in the Saldanha Bay region, but after the Dutch arrived in the Cape in 1652, the Cochoqua migrated and settled in the area around present-day Ashton and Montagu. The kloof between the two towns was named after the Cochoqua. This name went through several iterations: from Cochonas to Cockomans to Cochmans and, finally, Cogmans. Around 1760, pressure from Dutch settlement once again caused the Cochoqua to leave their home. They migrated north in search of new hunting grounds and pasture. They eventually settled in the vicinity of the Gariep (Orange) River. Today, only scattered archaeological artefacts and the name of this route through the Langeberg Mountains remain as reminders of the Cochoqua people.
Keisie means “shining river” and traverses the farm along its southern boundary. “Kingna” means rhinoceros, and probably refers to the Renosterbos which grows in the area. The scent mist “//Khana” means “to fly”. “!Kui” means “feather” or “head” in Khoekhoe, referring to its essential oil properties that will lift your spirit like soft downy feathers and calm your senses.
Our Team
Liana Jansen
Formulator
Mixer
Designer
Petrus Jansen
Distillation
Website
Finances