HANGA Incense, Neroli, 90 sticks

At a glance

- For anyone who likes citrus but finds most citrus incense too sharp or zesty
- Calming orange blossom rather than orange itself, cleaner than the range's florals
- 90 sticks, each burning 15 to 17 minutes, box designed as a small woodblock print
- By Kousaido, Kyoto's Karasuma district, working within kōdō, the city's fragrance tradition

Most citrus incense goes straight for sharp: lemon, grapefruit, something zesty. Neroli takes a calmer route, orange blossom rather than orange itself, refreshing without the sharpness, lighter and cleaner than the rest of the HANGA range.

HANGA takes its name from woodblock printing, and each box is designed as a small print matched to its scent. Each stick starts as a hand-kneaded paste on a base of white sandalwood, worked with natural woods, resins and herbs, then rolled thin and dried slowly. Kousaido, the Kyoto maker behind it, was founded in 1994 in the Karasuma district, continuing kōdō, the fragrance tradition the city has practised for over 400 years.

Ninety sticks come in the box, each burning 15 to 17 minutes. No holder is included.

Citrus, without the sharp edge.