Color spec
| Brand | Rodda |
| Name | Essence |
| SKU | R117 |
| Hex | #837272 |
| RGB | 131, 114, 114 |
| HSL | 0°, 7%, 48% |
| LRV | 19 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Rodda Essence
With an LRV of 19, Essence is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its red 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.
Essence works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Similar Rodda colors
closest in the Rodda deckThe nearest shades to Essence within Rodda'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 #837272 in HSL space. Pair Essence 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.
Rodda Essence Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Essence 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 Rodda R117 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Essence
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Essence is Soulmate (SW 6270) — very close at ΔE 2.92, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Soulmate swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Essence
At Behr, the closest color to Essence is Smokey Claret (HDC-AC-28) — very close at ΔE 2.47, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smokey Claret swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Essence
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Essence is Cinnamon Slate (2113-40) — very close at ΔE 2.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cinnamon Slate swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Essence
Valspar's nearest match is Ashen Violet (T592), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.33). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17.6 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Essence without repainting risk. See the full Ashen Violet swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Essence
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Essence is Granite Boulder (PPG1015-6) — very close at ΔE 2.85, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 17 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Granite Boulder swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Essence
At Glidden, the closest color to Essence is Dark Raspberry Taupe (50RR 18/041) — very close at ΔE 2.9, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 19) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dark Raspberry Taupe swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Essence
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Essence. The nearest is Seal Gray (447-5DB) at ΔE 3.59 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 17 vs 19). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Seal Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Essence
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Essence is Alder Branch (HGSW 3423) — very close at ΔE 3.06, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Alder Branch swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Essence
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Essence is Cave of the Winds (DE6040) — very close at ΔE 2.65, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 19) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cave of the Winds swatch →