Fragrance comparison

In principio vs Pharaoh's Passion

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

Updated 19 Oct 2026 20 ratings analysed

1 wins

In principio

Zanini

4.1317 votes

Rank #20,016 AmberFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

48%scent match

Some overlap

Pharaoh's Passion

St. Clair Scents

3.333 votes

Rank #63,849 AromaticRose

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

In principio takes 1 of 1 categories.

In principio
Choose it for a amber and fresh spicy character. Wins on fragranxe ranking.
Pharaoh's Passion
Choose it for a aromatic and rose character. Best in winter, day or night wear.

In principio1/1

Pharaoh's Passion0/1

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

In principioZanini

Pharaoh's PassionSt. Clair Scents

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.13/ 5 · 17 votes

Have 0%Had 33%Want 67%

3.33/ 5 · 3 votes

Have 0%Had 7%Want 93%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating 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

33%Love

33%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

33%Hate

3 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity83

〰 Sillage75

♥ Love / hate85

⏱ LongevityN/A

〰 SillageN/A

♥ Love / hate58

Category winners

LongevityNo data

SillageNo data

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value75

¤ Price valueN/A

Category winnerNot enough dataBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

amber100%

fresh spicy92%

woody84%

citrus77%

aromatic69%

balsamic61%

aromatic100%

rose92%

amber84%

fresh spicy77%

woody69%

warm spicy61%

Scent match48%Some overlap · both amber, fresh spicy and aromatic

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

Coriander LeafBergamotCardamom

Heart

Turkish RoseGeraniumJasmineYlang Ylang

Base

BenzoinCedarFrankincenseLabdanumMuskVetiver

InformationalShared notesTurkish Rose, Frankincense and Ylang Ylang. 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

Spring67

Summer0

Fall67

Winter100

Day100

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Not enough votes yet

Men0

Unisex0

Women100

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#20,016

PerfumerPhilippo Zanini

Launched—

Reviews5

Overall rank#63,849

PerfumerDiane St.Clair

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerIn principioHigher 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 →

Pharaoh's Passion by St. Clair Scents opens with a bright burst of crushed coriander leaf, fresh bergamot, and warm cardamom spice. The scent quickly settles into a rich bouquet of velvety Turkish rose, green geranium, and heady jasmine, supported by golden benzoin and smoky frankincense resins. It wears like a cozy, …

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 Pharaoh's Passion?

In principio takes 1 of 1 categories. In principio is rated 4.13/5 from 17 votes; Pharaoh's Passion is rated 3.33/5 from 3 votes. Choose In principio for a amber and fresh spicy character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Choose Pharaoh's Passion for a aromatic and rose character. Best in winter, day or night wear.

Do In principio and Pharaoh's Passion smell similar?

Some overlap: a 48% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber, fresh spicy and aromatic accords. Common notes include Turkish Rose, Frankincense and Ylang Ylang.

Is In principio or Pharaoh's Passion better for summer or winter?

Pharaoh's Passion suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in In principio and Pharaoh's Passion?

In principio features Tuscan Cypress, Bitter Orange, Turkish Rose, Frankincense and Ylang Ylang. Pharaoh's Passion has top notes of Coriander Leaf, Bergamot and Cardamom, heart notes of Turkish Rose, Geranium, Jasmine and Ylang Ylang, a base of Benzoin, Cedar, Frankincense and Labdanum.