Molasses
S220-7 · #88654D · LRV 15 — warm red-orange tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Turkish Coffee5
- 2Leather Saddle Brown10
- 3Molasses15
- 4Cavern Clay20
- 5Redend Point30
What Color Is Molasses, Really?
Molasses reads as a warm red-orange tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Behr S220-7 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Molasses
Molasses works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
How Lighting Changes Molasses
With an LRV of 15, Molasses is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its orange undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Molasses are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Behr S220-7 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Baked CookieSW 9098 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.2 | 16 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | CattailCSP-295 · Benjamin Moore | 1.3 | 16 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Rustic Earth2007-7A · Valspar | 2.8 | 14.7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Suede LeatherPPG1072-6 · PPG / Glidden | 2.7 | 16 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Suede LeatherPPG1072-6 · Glidden | 3.5 | 16 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Noah's Boat315-7DB · Dutch Boy | 3.3 | 15 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to Molasses within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #88654D in HSL space. Pair Molasses with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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