Nippon Kodo Kayuragi — Sandalwood

The single-scent box of the Kayuragi line, dedicated to byakudan — Japan's quieter, creamier take on sandalwood. At forty short sticks for around ¥1,200, this is the cheapest way to live with good Japanese sandalwood for a month. The Japanese press returns to it every year with the same verdict: not showy, hard to fault, the default.