Well, of course it depends. These are such unique fragrances that they really defy most of the standard conventions. For me, Kyoto is my favorite of the incense series because it is the softest and most evocative. I have many many very fond memories of incense burning in the summer, hot summer nights drinking gin, dancing in the living room, and staying up late with friends playing cards... So the evocation of incense in the summer is quite sublime, much more so than it might be in the winter. More traditionally, Kyoto has the heat one usually associates with a winter fragrance, but it is devoid of anything even slightly cloying or sickly sweet that might feel too heavy in the summer. No vanilla, musk, or amber. I wear it and enjoy it in the summer... or the-season-formerly-known-as-summer in this rainy NW city (currently raining and 64f).
I also enjoy Sequoia. I bought decants of this and Pallisander together and initially liked Pallisander better - it just struck me as more wearable and versatile. After several wearings of both I am now enjoying Sequoia more. There is this weird fruity, cinnamon candy note to the Pallisander that comes out at times in the heat. No idea what that is. The Sequoia is beautiful dry woods, but it also has a strange tomato soup note that pops out sometimes. The red series seems strangely reactive to chemistry.
To answer your question more directly, I think both can easily be worn in the summer. Choosing between the two would be difficult, but I find myself reaching for Kyoto more often.
Slim
