#B38241

Color Profile: #B38241

Subject: Arts & Entertainment / Visual Art & Design

Common Name: golden ochre / spiced caramel

Color Specs

Hex: #B38241

RGB (8-bit): ~179, ~130, ~65

HSL: ~34°, ~47%, ~48%

HSV: ~34°, ~64%, ~70%

CMYK (est.): ~0%, ~27%, ~64%, ~30%

Relative Luminance: ~0.26 (LRV ~26)

Contrast & Accessibility

Against White (#FFFFFF): ~3.4:1 — AA: fail for normal text, AA Large: pass, AAA Large: pass

Against Black (#000000): ~6.2:1 — AA: pass for normal text, AAA: fail for normal text

Tip: Use deeper accents (e.g., charcoal) or lighter overlays (e.g., ivory) to maintain readable contrasts for body copy.

Mood & Character

Warm, grounded, and quietly confident. This golden-brown feels like sun-cured grain and brushed brass—earthy but refined. It signals heritage and craftsmanship without sliding into kitsch, making it a favorite for vintage-leaning identities and premium packaging.

Close Named Matches

• Hallman Lindsay — 921 “Waxen Moon” (#B38241) — Exact hit; ΔE=0.00
• Benjamin Moore — 2160-10 “Caramel Corn” (#B3813E) — ΔE~1.26
• Vista — C-920 “Waxen Moon” (#B0823F) — ΔE~1.58
• Pantone CMYK Guide — P 19-5 C (#B08243) — ΔE~1.90
• Valspar — 3009-5 “Pumpkin Squash” (#B88541) — ΔE~2.18

Note: ΔE < 2 is near-indistinguishable in many viewing conditions; most above are production-friendly substitutes.

Why Designers Use It.

• Brand Warmth without Shouting: The hue sits between buff and deep amber, reading as trustworthy, artisanal, and food-friendly—ideal for coffee, bakery, spice, and natural beauty labels where appetite appeal and heritage matter.
• Print Reliability: Moderate chroma and mid lightness mean fewer surprises on uncoated stocks; CMYK builds retain body without muddying. Metallic stand-ins (e.g., bronze/gold inks) layer well for premium tiers.
• Architecture & Coatings: Close standards exist in building palettes (e.g., “Deep Buff” families), so exterior/interior spec workflows can match paint systems with documented tolerances (track ΔE on-site for QA).
• UI & Data-Viz Accents: As a primary brand color it's bold; as an accent it pairs cleanly with charcoal, midnight blue, deep teal, bone, and cool gray. Use for buttons, focus rings, and tabs—reserve body text for high-contrast pairs.
• Cultural & Material Resonance: Evokes natural pigments (ochres/iron oxides), aged paper, honey, and burnished wood—useful for craft narratives, archival vibes, or mid-century motifs without going orange.
• Seasonal & Editorial: Strong in autumn/fall campaigns, product storytelling, and lifestyle photography where it complements skin tones and warm light; anchors “vintage modern” art direction common in galleries and boutique hospitality.
• Packaging & Finishes: Reads premium with matte soft-touch or uncoated kraft; emboss + foil (bronze) creates tactile hierarchy while staying on-palette.

Practical Pairings & Usage Notes

Great with: Charcoal (#2B2B2B), Deep Teal (#1E4A4A), Indigo (#1E2A44), Ivory (#F6F1E6)
Use sparingly for text on light backgrounds; keep it for headings over dark fields or for UI affordances and illustrations.