Reflecting on / Over Angel's Breath Perfumes and How to Spot Fakes in the Update

Here's the scene.

Bali Alus Traditional Spa Essential Scrub with VCO in Jasmine

We've been having hot, at times humid days this past couple of weeks. Not that I'm complaining. We live in a flood-prone area so I'd take it. Although I would be much happier if it's a bit cooler. Wouldn't mind light rains too.

That said, I've been on a tropical floral scent binge lately, fitting of said weather. Jasmine, sampaguita and ylang-ylang scents remind me of church stops when we go on local trips, flower garlands strung during summer and relaxing spas and massages I've had. In my bathroom right now is a body scrub from Bali Alus, an Indonesian skincare brand.

A Silly / Sili Garden

A collective protest erupted in our house last week when in the news, a carinderia owner said that they will no longer offer sisig, a pork dish acknowledged by Anthony Bourdain, due to high cost of bird's eye chili peppers or siling labuyo, as expensive as P1k for 1 kilo, among other commodities. Memes have erupted on socmed, from chili peppers being used as currency to claims of being rich due to chili pepper plant ownership.

In a news report two weeks ago, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol encouraged the public to plant chili peppers. And I guess, he also meant, other vegetables.

Here's the thing, while it's a good idea to plant vegetables, where I am at, I think several pots, even a 3x3 meter plot, could only augment, not sustain the entire vegetable needs of a family of five. It's not like you can harvest vegetables from said plot everyday or you can plant any vegetables without thinking about weather conditions. Still, a couple of pesos shaved off the food budget plus the thrill of plucking edible leaves or produce from the garden or potted plant brigade is a great incentive to grow veggies. And crops and fruits.