Color guide · Dunn-Edwards · White

Essence of Violet

DEW396 · #EFEDEE · LRV 78 · near-white with a hint of color

DEW396 · #EFEDEE · LRV 78 — near-white with a hint of color, very light — near-white, broadens small spaces.

Essence of VioletDunn-Edwards · DEW396
The color, edge to edge.Use your own photo →
Essence of Violet
DUNN-EDWARDS · DEW396 · #EFEDEE
Brand · codeDunn-EdwardsDEW396 · all Dunn-Edwards whites
LRV78Very light — near-white, broadens small spaces.
Undertonenear-white with a hint of color
FamilyWhite
Hex · RGB · HSL#EFEDEE · 239, 237, 238 · 330°, 6%, 93%Display values from the brand. Match it at another brand
Sheen we recommendEggshell on walls · satin on trim and cabinetsWhich sheen where, explained
Where it sits, light to dark
  1. 1Titanium68
  2. 2Eider White73
  3. 3Essence of Violet78
  4. 4White Dove83
  5. 5Chantilly Lace91
Undertone and depth

What Color Is Essence of Violet, Really?

Essence of Violet reads as a near-white with a hint of color — very light — near-white, broadens small spaces. The notes below cover how Dunn-Edwards DEW396 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.

Room by room

Best Rooms and Uses for Essence of Violet

Essence of Violet shines on ceilings, trim and in small or low-light rooms where you need to stretch the light — and as a calm whole-home backdrop. As a white, it's a natural for trim, ceilings and cabinets, and a clean backdrop for art.

Light by light

How Lighting Changes Essence of Violet

Essence of Violet is very light — LRV 78, close to white. It opens up small or dim rooms and keeps walls feeling airy. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In north light it can read slightly cooler; a warm white trim alongside keeps it from going clinical.

Test it in your light, not a showroom's

Most complaints about Essence of Violet 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.

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Same color, different store

Need It From Another Brand?

Any paint counter can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DEW396 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.

Same deck, next chip over

Similar Dunn-Edwards Colors

The nearest shades to Essence of Violet within Dunn-Edwards's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

Contrast, for text and signage
Black text on Essence of Violet · 18 : 1 · passes AA and AAAWhite text on Essence of Violet · 1.2 : 1 · fails for text

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 #EFEDEE in HSL space. Pair Essence of Violet with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#EFEDEE + #EDEFEE
TRIADIC
#EFEDEE · #EEEFED · #EDEEEF
ANALOGOUS
#EFEDEF · #EFEDEE · #EFEDED

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Jessica Williams

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