OUR JOURNEY
We started in Africa where the saying
"A Farmer makes a plan"
was pretty much how we approached most things
OUR MISSION
Redefining the Way
We Move
Thinking about a move from advertising to making natural health products was probably quite clever even before ai joined the world, cos' let’s be honest, making yet another "new and improved toothpaste" advert at 3 a.m. never smelled as good as lavender and shea butter the next morning.
In advertising, you’re paid to sell ideas; in soap-making, the product already tells its own tale—“I’m pure, I’m natural, and I won’t give you mysterious rashes.” Plus, instead of trying to convince people they need a newer version of the one they already have, you now get to hand them something they actually might benefit from, smells good, helps their skin/hair/life, and is a cool excuse to brag about how “artisanal” their bathroom shelf looks.
Quite frankly, it’s clever re-imagining of what we've always done — but this time we're selling something we've made ourselves .... and something we really believe in.
So Far...
1995
AROMATHERAPY
My career took a little detour when I hit pause on producing TV ads and decided to see if a course in aromatherapy was a clever or just me procrastinating. Turns out I got hooked, swapping deadlines and jingles for lavender and eucalyptus was less of a midlife crisis and more of a wake up call. Instead of convincing people to buy things they didn’t really need, I found myself learning about things that could actually help them relax, sleep, or just smell a whole lot nicer. It was going to take a few years to gain traction, but it was a beginning.
2000
PLANTING THE
SEED
Taking a horticultural course really opened my eyes to the importance of plants—not just as pretty background scenery, but as the quiet superheroes of our world. I started to see how every leaf, root, and flower plays a role in keeping us healthy, fed, and even inspired. What began as learning to pot plants properly turned into a whole new respect for the green magic happening all around us. 🌱
2005
HECTIC GARDENER
No education could ready me for the reality of running a large garden and natural pond in sub-Sahahan Africa. I was less “green thumb” and more “plant assassin.” I managed to kill more things than I grew, turning what should’ve been a lush paradise into something that looked suspiciously like a salad graveyard. But even in this plant massacre phase, it started to cement what I’d been learning: that plants aren’t just decoration, they’re vital, resilient, and deserve a lot more respect than I was giving them. 🌱💀✨
2010
NORTH WE GO -
AND SNOW
Moving to the northern hemisphere plunged me into the world of seasonal planting, and I realized that gardening isn’t just about throwing seeds in the soil and hoping for the best. I had to learn how to marry certain plants with others across different seasons, to keep the garden thriving year-round. It was fascinating—and humbling—to see how timing, companionship, and planning was essential. Just as as it is when combined correctly to create a balanced skin cream or fragrance 🌿🌸
2020
THE COVID CATALYST
As with many people, the pandemic was helpful in springboarding new ideas. Realising my advertising career was probably going to slow down I thought it might be time to relook at what I could do with my knowledge in Aromatherapy. So between 2021 and 2025 I went back to school and became more knowledgable and trained in CBD applications, received a diploma in Natural Cosmetics, did courses in making Soaps, Creams, shampoos and Candle and Learnt how to heal with herbs and mushrooms
2024
KKOL-Essence
In 2024 the idea for KKOL was born and here we are. Whether its a CBD laced pain balm, a "care for your hands whilst you wash your dog" shampoo-bar or just a scented candle that reveals a secret - watch this space, more to come.
