Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Organic Matter |
| SKU | DE5509 |
| Hex | #A99E54 |
| RGB | 169, 158, 84 |
| HSL | 52°, 34%, 50% |
| LRV | 32 |
| Undertone | warm yellow tone |
| Family | Yellow |
About Dunn-Edwards Organic Matter
Organic Matter sits in the mid-range at LRV 32, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its yellow 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Organic Matter is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Yellows lift kitchens, hallways and kids' rooms with warmth.
Closest matches by brand
9 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all yellow from that brand.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Organic Matter within Dunn-Edwards's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #A99E54 in HSL space. Pair Organic Matter with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Dunn-Edwards Organic Matter Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Organic Matter from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DE5509 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Organic Matter
Behr has no exact twin of Organic Matter. The nearest is Golden Bear (330F-5) at ΔE 4.37 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Golden Bear swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Organic Matter
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Organic Matter is Savannah Moss (385) — very close at ΔE 2.56, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Savannah Moss swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Organic Matter
At Valspar, the closest color to Organic Matter is Organic Garden (6005-6B) — very close at ΔE 2.72, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30.7 vs 32) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Organic Garden swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Organic Matter
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Organic Matter is Gremlin (PPG1110-5) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gremlin swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Organic Matter
Glidden's nearest match is Gremlin (PPG1110-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.88). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Organic Matter without repainting risk. See the full Gremlin swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Organic Matter
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Organic Matter is Rain Boots (0802) — very close at ΔE 2.31, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rain Boots swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Organic Matter
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Organic Matter. The nearest is Shiny Gold (0388) at ΔE 3.56 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 35 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Shiny Gold swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Organic Matter
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Organic Matter. The nearest is Serengeti (C2-648) at ΔE 4.23 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Serengeti swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Organic Matter
Kompozit has no exact twin of Organic Matter. The nearest is Shiny Gold (0388) at ΔE 3.56 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 35 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Shiny Gold swatch →