Fragrance comparison

In principio vs Mosaic

Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.

Updated 19 Oct 2026 72 ratings analysed

In principio

Zanini

4.1317 votes

Rank #20,016 AmberFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

29%scent match

Clearly different

4 wins

Mosaic

Kinetic Perfumes

4.0455 votes

Rank #8,547 Warm SpicyAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Mosaic takes 4 of 5 categories.

In principio
Choose it for a amber and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money.
Mosaic
Choose it for a warm spicy and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, evening wear.

In principio1/5

Mosaic4/5

Ratings & consensus: Mosaic
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Mosaic
Sillage & projection: Mosaic
Value for money: In principio
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Mosaic

Head-to-head breakdown

Every category side by side, with the winner called out.

Fragrance

In principioZanini

MosaicKinetic Perfumes

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.13/ 5 · 17 votes

Have 0%Had 33%Want 67%

4.04/ 5 · 55 votes

Have 24%Had 3%Want 73%

Category winnerMosaicRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

0%Love

100%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

1 vote · too few to score

53%Love

33%Like

7%Ok

0%Dislike

7%Hate

15 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity83

〰 Sillage75

♥ Love / hate85

⏱ Longevity85

〰 Sillage78

♥ Love / hate79

Category winners

LongevityMosaic

SillageMosaic

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value75

¤ Price value70

Category winnerIn principioBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

amber100%

fresh spicy92%

woody84%

citrus77%

aromatic69%

balsamic61%

warm spicy100%

amber92%

sweet84%

citrus77%

vanilla69%

leather61%

Scent match29%Clearly different · both amber and citrus

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared

Notes

Tuscan CypressBitter OrangeTurkish RoseFrankincenseYlang YlangAmbergrisKumquatNutmegelemiLilyMacePalisander Rosewood

No top / heart / base split published

Top

SugarBitter OrangePink PepperSaffronKumquatRhubarb

Heart

FrankincenseCedarwoodViolet LeavesCaramelCumin

Base

SuedeOudTurmericVanillaAmbergrisGingerVetiverMoss

InformationalShared notesBitter Orange, Frankincense, Ambergris and Kumquat. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

No season votes yet

Spring63

Summer25

Fall100

Winter100

Day67

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Not enough votes yet

Men30

Unisex60

Women10

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#20,016

PerfumerPhilippo Zanini

Launched—

Reviews5

Overall rank#8,547

PerfumerMarc Daniel Heimgartner

Launched—

Reviews13

Category winnerMosaicHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

In principio by Zanini starts with bright, bitter citrus and dries down to a rich, meditative base of frankincense and cistus. The fragrance suits individuals seeking a contemplative, resinous aroma for cool autumn evenings. It balances citrus top notes with warm, mineral ambergris, creating a distinct option for thos…

Reviews →

Mosaic by Kinetic Perfumes opens bright, sweet, and spicy, with saffron, rhubarb, kumquat, bitter orange, sugar, and pink pepper giving it a sparkling lift. As it settles, cedar, violet leaf, frankincense, caramel, cumin, suede, oud, vanilla, vetiver, moss, ginger, turmeric, and ambergris make it warmer, darker, and m…

Reviews →

InformationalRead bothTaste is personal

How we score: ratings blend public fragrance ratings with Fragranxe member votes; longevity, sillage, value and sentiment are community vote scores, and season bars are relative to each fragrance's strongest season. Categories with too little data are shown but not scored. The scent match weighs accord overlap (60%) and shared notes (40%). More in the FAQ.

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, In principio or Mosaic?

Mosaic takes 4 of 5 categories. In principio is rated 4.13/5 from 17 votes; Mosaic is rated 4.04/5 from 55 votes. Choose In principio for a amber and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money. Choose Mosaic for a warm spicy and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, In principio or Mosaic?

They last about the same: Mosaic 85/100, In principio 83/100 for longevity in community votes.

Which projects more, In principio or Mosaic?

Mosaic projects furthest (Mosaic 78/100, In principio 75/100), based on community performance votes.

Do In principio and Mosaic smell similar?

Clearly different: a 29% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber and citrus accords. Common notes include Bitter Orange, Frankincense, Ambergris and Kumquat.

Is In principio or Mosaic better for summer or winter?

Mosaic suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in In principio and Mosaic?

In principio features Tuscan Cypress, Bitter Orange, Turkish Rose, Frankincense and Ylang Ylang. Mosaic has top notes of Sugar, Bitter Orange, Pink Pepper and Saffron, heart notes of Frankincense, Cedarwood, Violet Leaves and Caramel, a base of Suede, Oud, Turmeric and Vanilla.