Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Sage Smudge Stick |
| SKU | DESS28 |
| Hex | #8E9486 |
| RGB | 142, 148, 134 |
| HSL | 86°, 6%, 55% |
| LRV | 29 |
| Undertone | green / cool |
| Family | Gray |
About Dunn-Edwards Sage Smudge Stick
Sage Smudge Stick sits in the mid-range at LRV 29, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its green 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.
Sage Smudge Stick is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches at every US brand
13 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.
Farrow & Ball
Behr
C2 Paint
Diamond Vogel
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Kompozit
PPG / Glidden
Valspar
Dutch Boy
Magnolia Home
Clare
Backdrop
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Sage Smudge Stick 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 #8E9486 in HSL space. Pair Sage Smudge Stick 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 Sage Smudge Stick Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Sage Smudge Stick 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 DESS28 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Card Room Green (NO. 79), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.6). It runs slightly darker (LRV 27 vs 29) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Sage Smudge Stick without repainting risk. See the full Card Room Green swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
Behr's nearest match is Shady Willow (ECC-36-1), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.76). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 29) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Sage Smudge Stick without repainting risk. See the full Shady Willow swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Sage Smudge Stick is Dowager (0442) — very close at ΔE 2.15, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 27 vs 29) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dowager swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Sage Smudge Stick is Storm Cloud Gray (2140-40) — very close at ΔE 2.39, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 29 vs 29) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Storm Cloud Gray swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
At Kompozit, the closest color to Sage Smudge Stick is Everlasting Sage (0422) — very close at ΔE 2.46, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 29) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Everlasting Sage swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Sage Smudge Stick is Gray Heron (PPG1033-5) — very close at ΔE 2.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 28 vs 29) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gray Heron swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
At Valspar, the closest color to Sage Smudge Stick is Agreeable Green (V097-4) — very close at ΔE 2.83, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 28.2 vs 29) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Agreeable Green swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Sage Smudge Stick is Cornwall Slate (SW 9131) — very close at ΔE 3.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 29 vs 29) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cornwall Slate swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
Clare has no exact twin of Sage Smudge Stick. The nearest is Shade (PNT100-MD-14) at ΔE 4.74 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 28 vs 29). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Shade swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Sage Smudge Stick. The nearest is Puck (C2-697) at ΔE 4.93 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 29 vs 29). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Puck swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick — the nearest deck color, Before & After (JG-146), is clearly different (ΔE 6.04). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DESS28 instead. See the full Before & After swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
Dutch Boy doesn't make a true equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick — the nearest deck color, Stone Cottage (421-4DB), is clearly different (ΔE 7.48). For an exact match, any Dutch Boy retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DESS28 instead. See the full Stone Cottage swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Sage Smudge Stick — the nearest deck color, Anita (BD-AN), is clearly different (ΔE 11.31). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DESS28 instead. See the full Anita swatch →